A Teenager Is Running For School Board Against A Chicago Cop: Reports

CHICAGO — An 18-year-old is running a write-in campaign for the Chicago school board, according to reports.

Alexander Angeles joined the race for southwestern District 8b in August after incumbent Cydney Wallace was booted from the ballot following petition challenges, Chalkbeat Chicago reported, adding Angeles is up against Chicago police detective and local business owner Juan Ignacio Gonzalez.

A recent graduate of John Hancock College Preparatory High School, where he served on the Local School Council, Angeles now attends the University of Illinois Chicago, where he studies political science, while juggling jobs at McDonald’s and O’Reilly Auto Parts, according to the Chicago Tribune.

His politics align with the Chicago Teachers Union and his priorities for the school district are better school lunches, smaller class sizes and more opportunities for student voices, the Tribune reported.

“If we want to make decisions for the next generation, then we need someone who’s part of that generation to lead that fight,” Angeles told Chalkbeat.

His opponent, Gonzalez, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who owns a coffee shop and has been on Chicago’s police force nearly 30 years, according to Chalkbeat, which noted 25 allegations of misconduct have been filed against Gonzalez but all were deemed unfounded.

Gonzalez has received support from school choice organizations and an anti-CTU political action committee, Chalkbeat reported. His priorities for the district include improved math and reading instruction, according to Chalkbeat.