The Democratic candidate for Illinois Senate District 33 in the Nov. 3 general election, Jared Ploger, presented his agenda at a recent forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County.

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

Ploger, of Aurora, introduced himself Sept. 22 at the forum at Batavia City Hall as being in “the sandwich generation.”

“And as I go around the 42nd, and I see many who are in it as well. The sandwich generation is those of us who are helping our children while at the same time caring for our parents,” Ploger said. “We’re sandwiched in the middle and we’re happy to, because we love our families.”

Ploger said the oldest of his two sons is a land surveyor.

“And there’s a nice paycheck that goes along with that,” Ploger said. “However, he, his wife and my grandson are living with us because he can’t afford the bills, high rent and save for a house.”

The other side of the sandwich is his elderly mother, who has dementia, Ploger said.

“We work really hard to see that she gets the care she needs,” Ploger said. “She was the first one in our family to get a college education. She deserves to retire with dignity. And yet, that fixed income doesn’t cover it. So here I am – stuck in the middle with you, or many of you – at the very least, right?”

A teacher for 20 years, Ploger said he sees that something is not right.

“I can see it come into my classroom. As a union leader, I see it in how my members are trying to get by,” Ploger said. “As a school board member, I felt it on both ends. Those who are stressed by property taxes and the students who need those services.”

Ploger, a high school studies teacher, is president of Valley View Council Local 604 of the American Federation of Teachers.

Kane County being one of the fastest-growing counties in Illinois is a positive in many ways, he said, but not if the infrastructure can’t keep up – then it becomes a problem.

Residents on their way to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva or to Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora are not thinking about politics, Ploger said, they’re trying to make sure they get there.

“The heart of the problem is, we are paying bills that we can’t afford. We’ve been asked to give more and more while those who can afford more have not been asked the same,” Ploger said. “And this has to be rectified. This has to be changed. And I’m happy to run because the future or my kids, my grandson, our kids is important.”

Ploger said it was equally important for those who are retired to be able to do so in dignity.

Senate District 42 spans parts of Kane, Kendall, Will and DuPage counties. It includes Aurora, Batavia, St. Charles, Sugar Grove, Montgomery, Naperville, North Aurora, Oswego, Boulder Hill and Yorkville.