This Feb. 22, Chicago will vote on a new mayor as retiring Mayor Richard Daley steps down after more than 20 years. The ballots also have many names for the 50 alderman positions, including a student from the University.

Adam Miguest, senior in LAS, will be on the ballot in Chicago for the alderman position of the 4th ward. Miguest is majoring in international studies, minoring in political science and will graduate this spring.

Current Chicago Alderman Tim Cullerton of the 38th ward said an alderman is a representative of the people in the ward he or she serves.

“We’re the voice of the people and we go down to the city council meetings and committee meetings,” he said. “We look over the ward services, make sure the streets are clean and the snow is plowed.”

At 21 years old, Miguest called his age an advantage to his campaign.

“People always say that it’s a disadvantage, but through this experience, I’ve learned that it’s a major advantage,” he said. “Right off the bat, people look at me and they’re like, ‘I’ve just seen these other five older guys, this is something new, I didn’t expect someone your age to come in.’”

Diane Bates is Miguest’s campaign manager and said it has been an exciting experience.

“When he first started, first he wanted to focus in on the voters from 18 to 25, and people were saying that people in that age group don’t come out to vote,” she said. “But he’s managed to put together a nice group of young people who have been working hard to get this campaign going.”

Miguest said education and job creation were two of the biggest issues he intended to work on within the fourth ward.

“I think we need to make sure that we get more funding in my ward for education,” he said. “One of the ideas I have is that we take teachers from schools that are more established and have higher test grades and put those in wards who may need them more.”

Miguest also suggested a plan to bring in large retailers to help create jobs.

“In my ward, there are a lot of small businesses, but not enough to employ the majority of people who are looking for employment,” he said.

In the race for the 4th ward’s alderman position, Miguest faces five other opponents, including State Rep. Will Burns, D-26, who is being backed by the previous 4th ward alderman, Toni Preckwinkle, who is now Cook County Board President.

Miguest said he is financing his campaign through fundraisers and has a set staff of four or five, with the number fluctuating with volunteers.

“I got lucky by having a really good base of people who I can draw upon for support,” he said.

As a prior intern with U.S. Congressman Bobby Rush, D-10, Miguest said he has the experience of “seeing how the system is run,” and the time in Washington, D.C. inspired him to run for the alderman position.

Miguest said on becoming an elected official: “If you have the right ideas, if you can inspire the people and really have a drive to better the community, I think people will elect you.”