Michele Clark, the Democratic candidate for Illinois Senate District 33 in the Nov. 3 general election, presented her platform at a recent forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County.

Her Republican opponent did not attend, so per League rules, Clark had three minutes to speak.

“I was born in Cook County, raised in Lake County, owned a business in McHenry County and have lived and raised a family in Kane County for almost 30 years,” Clark said at the forum held Sept. 22 at the Batavia City Hall.

A resident of Algonquin, Clark said her McHenry County business had 30 employees. Records show she ran an early childhood learning center.

After that, she moved on to working with nonprofits, beginning with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township, “where I ensured that every child, regardless of income or ZIP code, had the opportunity to be successful after graduation.”

She became development director for the School District 300 Food Pantry, “where we make sure that … no matter what, every child goes to school without being hungry.”

“I believe that I am the right candidate for this position, because I have the right professional experience,” Clark said. “Right now where everyone is struggling with affordability. Affordability is on everybody’s mind. And I’ve lived it, because I have balanced budgets, and I have made payroll and I know what it’s like to be the last one to get paid.”

The cost of health care insurance is specifically on her mind in regard to affordability, she said.

“My mom has Parkinson’s disease and she struggles every day with this. But what keeps her up at night is the fact that she cannot get her medications completely paid for by Medicare,” Clark said.

Her 19- and 20-year-old daughters worry if they will be able to afford a home.

“Because in the state of Illinois right now, the average age of a first-time homebuyer is 40,” Clark said. “And lastly, we’re worried about … the cost of everyday prices on groceries and property taxes. And I believe that it is our responsibility to make sure that we stop the increasing cost of property taxes.”

State Sen. Don Dewitte, R-St. Charles, who currently represents the 33rd District announced that he would not seek re-election this year.

The district includes Batavia, Crystal Lake, East Dundee, Elgin, Geneva, Gilberts, Hampshire, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood, Pingree Grove, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin, St. Charles, Wayne and West Dundee.