CHICAGO, IL - Morehouse College alumnus, Corey Hardiman (23), announced Saturday at Roseland Christian Ministries shelter that he would challenge current Alderman Anthony Beale in the city elections next year according to DNAinfo Chicago.
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th Ward) in 1999 was elected the youngest alderman at age 31. Now, Hardiman wants to do the same thing at age 23.
In March, Hardiman brought 14 classmates to Chicago for a week of volunteering including work at the shelter. Hardiman, who grew up and lives in the Roseland area of Chicago, graduated in May from Morehouse College in Atlanta with a bachelor's degree in political science, and he said he was now ready for a bigger challenge.
"I know people may think I am too young and inexperienced and that I won't be able to raise enough money to put fourth a good fight but that's what they said (in 2008) about President Barack Obama," Hardiman told DNAinfo Chicago on Monday (June 16). "If he was able to do it, then so can I."
Hardiman, also spoke to residents at the Altgeld Gardens public housing complex, which is part of the 9th ward.
"I am going to speak to residents to let them know their opinion matters to me and I want to hear their concerns regardless if they are a registered voter or not," Hardiman said. "Ever since I graduated from high school I have always wanted to enter politics to make a difference in my community."
In 2010, after graduating from George Corliss High School as a Gates Millennium Scholar, where Beale is also an alumnus, Hardiman predicted at Mayor Richard M. Daley's annual interfaith breakfast at U.S. Cellular Field that he would run for Mayor after finishing college.
"Well, maybe I was aiming too high at the time," Hardiman said. "But I certainly think it is a realistic goal."
And as far as Haridman attempting to unseat Beale in the February 2015 election, Beale said, "I applaud any young person who wants to become a public servant."
Hardiman said if he did not win he would pursue a master's degree in public policy and eventually run for elected office again.
In 2012, Hardiman founded the nonprofit Enough Chicago as a platform to encourage young people to focus on education and to get politicians to increase the number of city community centers.
By August, Hardiman said he would have a website, campaign staff and office in place.
And until the election Hardiman said he would be working as a summer literacy coach at LaVizzeo Elementary School in Roseland, where he is an alumnus, and in the fall he would be working at a South Side charter school as dean of students.
Hardiman, is a member of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. Which our Founder of the HBCU Campaign, Demetrius Johnson Jr. is also a member and a usher of Salem Baptist Church and as well as a resident of the 9th ward where he grew up in Pullman area and is an alumnus of Jesse Owens Community Academy, Gompers Fine Arts Academy and Christian Fenger High School Academy. Demetrius, was an intern for Ald. Beale back in the summer of 2010, as apart of Mikva Challege Summer Government and Leadership Institute.
Mikva Challenge is an non-profit organization that engage Chicago high school students into government and politics.
Our Founder Demetrius, says that he loves the work of his current alderman Anthony Beale, but he would not mind seeing an leader, an HBCU leader like Corey Hardiman take over his ward and his community. He supports and wish Hardiman the best in his future endeavors. And whoever wins the election in 2015, Demetrius wants the public official to get more engaged into ways to stop the violence and to getting more people to puts the guns down.