Joseph Carmichael (Berwyn City Council Ward 8, Illinois, candidate 2025)
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Joseph Carmichael ran for election to the Berwyn City Council Ward 8 in Illinois. He was on the ballot in the primary on February 25, 2025.[source]
Carmichael completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Joseph Carmichael provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on February 2, 2025:
- Birth date: October 6, 1990
- Birth place: Evanston, Illinois
- High school: Evanston Township High School
- Bachelor's: University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 2013
- Graduate: DePaul University, 2018
- Gender: Male
- Profession: Software Developer
- Incumbent officeholder: Yes
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Berwyn City Council Ward 8
Joseph Carmichael and Ruth Ortega ran in the primary for Berwyn City Council Ward 8 on February 25, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Joseph Carmichael (Nonpartisan)  | |
| Ruth Ortega (Nonpartisan) | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Election results
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Carmichael in this election.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joseph Carmichael completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Carmichael's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Alderman Joe Carmichael, and I’m running for a second term in Berwyn. I’m a software developer working for a small business in Naperville. I earned my undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois and a master’s in computer science from DePaul University. Most importantly, I’m a husband to an amazing nurse and a proud dad—I have two children at Jefferson, with my youngest joining soon. I first got involved in local government after my children tested high for lead. When we needed to replace a window to remove the source, we ran into a permitting issue. The problem stemmed from an old permit the city had failed to close when we bought the house. It wasn’t flagged before, but suddenly became a roadblock. After numerous calls with no resolution, someone suggested I contact my alderman. That experience made me realize residents shouldn’t have to go through elected officials just to receive basic city services. I ran for office to change that. Since taking office, I’ve prioritized transparency and communication. After my first election, I visited every home in the 8th Ward. I’ve kept residents informed through newsletters, door-knocking, and quarterly ward meetings. I’m proud of our progress, but there’s more work to do. I’m committed to fighting for better city services, clearer communication, and a more responsive government for Berwyn residents.
- Fiscal Responsibility - As a Berwyn homeowner, I understand the strain rising taxes put on families. I was one of only two aldermen to vote against the 275% salary increase for aldermanic wages because it was irresponsible given the financial pressures on residents. I have consistently supported lower tax levy options and voted against unnecessary vanity projects, prioritizing critical infrastructure upgrades that will save money in the long run. My focus is on fiscal responsibility to keep Berwyn affordable for families.
- Communication - Since taking office, I’ve prioritized transparency and communication. After my first election, I visited every home in the 8th Ward to share my contact information and a newsletter sign-up link. I’ve kept residents informed through newsletters, door-knocking, and quarterly ward meetings. I also distribute flyers in local stores and door-knock blocks for alley cleanups and special events. My goal is to keep residents informed and engaged, making city government more accessible to everyone.
- Rat Abatement - Rats are a serious problem in Berwyn, and I’ve made it a priority to address it. I co-created the Ad-Hoc Rat Abatement Committee, secured increased funding, and got a dedicated staff member focused on the issue. I’ve organized alley and Roosevelt Road cleanups to reduce food sources and improve sanitation. Additionally, I pushed for citywide garbage can replacements and better can repairs through our new waste provider. Rat control requires a proactive, long-term strategy, and I remain committed to keeping Berwyn cleaner and safer.
I am passionate about technology and its role in improving government efficiency. With a background in computer science, I’ve seen many ways we can modernize our city’s tech infrastructure to make services more accessible and efficient. Upgrading our systems would help City Hall employees work more effectively, eliminating the need to rifle through paper records. It would also allow residents to complete simple tasks such as applying for permits and accessing city services digitally, reducing wait times and making local government more user-friendly.
An elected official should be open, honest, and accountable to the people they serve. I believe in transparency and standing by my decisions. I won’t say one thing and do another. Whenever I vote against something on the agenda, I make it a point to explain my reasoning in my newsletter so residents know exactly why I took that position. Every vote I cast is made with the best interests of the community in mind, ensuring that residents—not politics—are the priority.
I’m a good listener and take the time to seek out alternative opinions to my own. I believe that weighing different perspectives helps me make well-informed decisions that best serve the community. Hearing people out goes a long way in making residents feel connected, valued, and invested in their local government. By fostering open communication and considering all viewpoints, I strive to find the best solutions for Berwyn.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
