In an upset that no one predicted, 30-year-old Ameya Pawar will be the new alderman of Chicago's 47th Ward. He beat the Schulter machine, built by an incumbent alderman who has been in office years before Pawar was born.

Pawar was up against three other candidates, including 47th Ward Ald. Eugene Schulter's chief of staff, Tom O'Donnell, who had earned the lion's share of endorsements in the race (including from SEIU, whose state council sponsors this website). The Northwestern University program assistant narrowly avoided a run-off, beating O'Donnell 50.8 percent to 43.5 percent; two other candidates on the ballot received the remainder of the votes.

Pawar sat down with Progress Illinois for an interview on Wednesday, sharing some of his thoughts about his campaign and his background, the next City Council and the many challenges Chicago faces.

It was one of those challenges -- the city's financial state -- that inspired Pawar to go against all odds and challenge for the 47th Ward seat:

There has been much fanfare -- and even international media attention -- about Pawar's status as the city's first elected Asian-American councilman. But the son of Indian immigrants doesn't like to dwell on that aspect of his win or upcoming role on the council. Having been born in Evanston and raised in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood during his early years and suburban Des Plaines through high school, Pawar says people voted for him due to his mass appeal, not his race:

When it comes to his plans for the entire city, Pawar is interested in some of Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel's outlined plans, and wants to make an impact by streamlining city services. As alderman, he'll push Open 311. His campaign, meanwhile, developed an iPhone app called Chicago Works that allows residents to report problems and request services via their mobile device. Pawar says leveraging technology in such a capacity can make for a more time- and cost-efficient city government:

When it comes to the 47th Ward specifically, Pawar seems to be in tune with the needs of constituents. At our meeting at Timber Lanes Bowling Alley, which became his impromptu campaign headquarters, Pawar mixed in with the crowd, recognizable and respected by the patrons at the same time. This every-man persona could have played in his favor, especially since residents are accustomed to having a career politician represent them for the past 35 years. Pawar wants to keep the relationship with 47th Ward residents once in office and plans to do so by allowing increased participation in the aldermanic office:

One of Pawar's promises on the campaign trail was to forgo part of his $110,000 aldermanic salary -- and he says he intends on keeping it. Pawar says he will only pocket $60,000 of the annual pay and is currently looking for ways to put the balance to use in the ward:

The city's pension problems have been a hot-button issue during this year's city election cycle. Although Pawar may not have received the bulk of union endorsements during the race, he says he will work to settle the issue of the city's underfunded pensions without having to do so on the backs of city workers:

Another hot topic in city government are tax increment financing districts. Pawar says the city's TIF program is broken, and needs to be re-focused to benefit all parts of the city, as it was originally intended. "For too long we've used a creative application of the term 'blighted'," he said. "And while the TIF program has netted us some great things like Millennium Park and The Bean ... that's come at the expense of schools and some other basic city services."

Pawar says he is reaching out to the mayor-elect as well as his soon-to-be aldermanic peers to begin fostering working relationships. Unlike during the Daley years, Pawar is hoping to be a part of an independent, as opposed to rubberstamp, City Council:

On the topic of education, Pawar, who was endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union, says the way city schools are managed needs to be re-evaluated and is reluctant to sing the praises of charter schools:

With a campaign slogan of "Pawar For The People", it is easy to see the new energy and perspective Pawar will bring to both the 47th Ward and City Council. It remains to be seen, however, as to exactly how it will translate into a renewed Chicago, which is his hope for the City of Big Shoulders.