Eighteen-year-old Alexander Angeles, a recent graduate of Hancock High School and current college student, is mounting a write-in campaign for a seat on the Chicago school board in the Southwest Side’s District 8B. Angeles, who balances part-time jobs at O’Reilly Auto Parts and McDonald’s, announced his candidacy despite the challenges posed by running as a write-in candidate in an uncontested race.

District 8B encompasses an area extending southwest from downtown Chicago’s Loop neighborhood to Chicago Lawn. Angeles faces Juan Ignacio Gonzalez, a police detective, Marine Corps veteran, and founder of DreamCatcher Café, a coffee shop and community space located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Acknowledging the difficulty of his bid, Angeles said his campaign is motivated by a belief that students deserve representation on the school board, which governs the third-largest school district in the United States. He emphasized the importance of offering voters a choice in the election as well as his personal ambition, stating that while his ultimate goal is to become president someday, he sees this race as a meaningful first step.

As a write-in candidate, Angeles must overcome the significant hurdle of not appearing on the printed ballot, requiring voters to remember and accurately write his name in order to cast a valid vote. Despite these obstacles and the lack of an official candidate listing, Angeles remains optimistic about his chances.

His opponent, Gonzalez, brings experience in law enforcement and veteran affairs to the race, as well as community involvement through his coffee shop space aimed at fostering neighborhood engagement.

The election in November will determine who will represent District 8B on the school board, a body responsible for setting policies and overseeing the operations of Chicago Public Schools. Angeles’s campaign highlights ongoing discussions about youth participation and diversity of perspectives in local education governance.