Chicagoan Is Economic Policy Adviser To Donald Trump
(CBS) -- At least four billionaires, one oil mogul and five hedge fund titans are members of Donald Trump's economic advisory team.
There's only one Chicagoan.
CBS 2 Political Reporter Derrick Blakley sat down with the self-made banker, who's giving the GOP presidential nominee economic advice.
"I want to see more people employed. I want to see my town, Chicago, back on top, and I think the best way to do that is to help bolster our economy," Stephen Calk says.
He's a former U.S. Army chopper pilot who founded the Chicago-based Federal Savings Bank, which specializes in home loans for veterans and first-time home buyers.
"Our primary focus is the financing of the American Dream: residential real estate."
Calk calls himself a centrist who backed President Obama in 2008. He says he's only met Trump three or four times, at social or charitable events.
"He seemed to take a real interest in the fact that I was a single dad, that I was a family man, that I built my business, and I think he had a lot of respect for that," Calk says.
Calk has respect for trump's economic plans, especially cutting child-care costs and cutting business taxes to 15 percent.
Trump's economic address this week featured more policy, less name-calling -- something else Calk expects going forward.
"He wants to see America on top, and I think the way he will deliver that message will probably be in a very measured way," he says.
Trump's economic team is totally composed of white men -- no women, no minorities. Calk said this is only the initial group. He expects more diversity when additional advisers are added.
