Latest / Kendall County News - Shaw Local / 2026 Election Questionnaire: Jared Ploger, State Representative, District 84

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2026 Election Questionnaire: Jared Ploger, State Representative, District 84 · Kendall County News - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: Twenty twenty six election questionnaire Jared Ploeger State Representative District
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  eighty four, Written by Marcus Jackson. This article is being
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  read by an automated voice brought to you by Everlett.
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  Name Jared Ploger. What office are you seeking? Ale House
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  eighty fourth. What is your political party? Democrat? What is
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  your current age fifty? Occupation and employer teacher value view
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  three sixty five U. What offices, if any, have you
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  previously held? Oswego CUSD three eight two at A fifteen
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  twenty nineteen and AMP twenty twenty two to twenty twenty
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  five City Aurora campaign website Jaredfourillinois dot Com Education, Akishwauki College,
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  Baashy Story Northern Illinois University, m A Reading Specialist, Olivet Nazarene,
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  Community Involvement GAR Museum Commissioner, Kiwanisoswego Charter Member, Great Cycle Challenge,
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  Fight Kids Cancer, Oswego Wolfpack basketball coach, marital status, immediate families, Yes, wife,
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  two kids and a grandson. My three priorities are rooted
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  in affordability one living wages, two affordable housing. Three fully
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  funding our education system, including our higher educational system. I'll
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  support economic growth by making sure Springfield works for our communities,
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  not against them. That means partnering with local mayors, school boards,
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  chambers of commerce, and labor to pass legislation that attracts
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  responsible development, protects workers, and grows good paying jobs. Growth
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  shouldn't just boost profits. It should strengthen our communities, fund
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  our schools, and help families actually get ahead. In the
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  eighty fourth district, I believe accountability matters more than arbitrary limits.
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  Communities should decide when it's time for new leadership. I've
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  always believed leaders need to know their shelf life, and
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  I live that on my own school board when it
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  was time to make room for new voices I did
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  in a district as diverse as the eighty fourth. Different
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  communities need different kinds of experience at different times. Term
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  limits sound simple, but elections are the real term limits,
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  and voters should always have the final say. Illinois has
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  a responsibility to keep its promises to workers while also
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  building a system that attracts the next generation of public servants.
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  Our long term pension challenge is real, but the solution
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  isn't cutting benefits. It's stabilizing funding and a modernizing revenue
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  We need to fix Tier two so we can recruit
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  and retain a quality workforce while responsibly meeting our existing obligations.
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  At the same time, we have to look at our
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  tax structure to make sure the burden isn't falling on
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  middle and working class families. Long term pension stability requires
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  sustainable revenue, discipline funding, and a system that guarantees retire
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  hirement security for today's workers and tomorrow's property. Taxes are
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  crushing families because Illinois relies too heavily on them to
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  fund schools. We need real school funding reform so a
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  child's education isn't determined by their zip code. That means
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  increasing the state's role in funding K twelve, fully supporting
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  the evidence based funding model, and reducing the pressure on
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  local property tax payers. At the same time, we need
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  a fairer tax system so middle and working class families
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  aren't carrying the entire burden while still investing in quality
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  schools that strengthen our communities. I support the goals of
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  the Safety Act, increasing fairness, transparency, and accountability in our
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  justice system while keeping communities safe. No major reform is
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  perfect on day one, so it's important that we continue
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  to review how it's working on the ground. I support
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  making practical, data driven adjustments that help law enforcement, protect victims,
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  and ensure the law is applied consistently without rolling back
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  the civil rights and do process protects that the Act
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  was designed to provide. Public safety starts long before a
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  crime happens. I would support legislation that invests in schools,
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  mental health services, job training, and community infrastructure because stable
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  communities prevent crime. At the same time, we need laws
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  that strengthen victim services, improve coordination between local police and
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  social services, and expand evidence based violence prevention programs. Smart
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  public safety means prevention, accountability, and opportunity working together. Reproductive
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  health care is healthcare. I firmly support a woman's right
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  to make her own medical decisions without interference from politicians.
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  As a man, my role is not to control women's bodies.
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  It's to protect their autonomy, privacy, and access to care.
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  Illinois must remain a place where people can safely access
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  reproductive health services, including abortion, contraception, and maternal care, free
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  from political intimidation or restriction. Support the Illinois Trust Act
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  because it protects immigrant families while keeping our communities safe.
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  The Act makes sure local police focus on local public safety,
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  not federal immigration enforcement, so victims and witnesses aren't afraid
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  to come forward. At the same time, serious criminal activity
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  should always be addressed through the justice system. Illinois needs real,
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  humane immigration reform that recognizes immigrants as essential to our economy,
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  our schools, and our communities. Yes, Medicaid fundings should reflect
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  the real healthcare needs of Illinois residents. Expanding access to
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  affordable care keeps people healthier, reduces emergency room costs, and
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  supports working families, seniors, and people with disabilities. We should
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  base funding on data and community needs, while making sure
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  the program is efficient, accountable, and sustainable. Yes, local voices
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  should matter in solar development. Communities deserve a real seat
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  at the table when projects are proposed. At the same time,
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  Illinois needs to expand clean, renewable energy to meet growing
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  demand and fight climate change. The right approaches balance clear
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  statewide standards with meaningful local input so solar farms are
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  built responsibly, fairly, and in ways that benefit the communities
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  hosting them. Illinois should pursue a balanced clean energy future
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  that means exhausting every opportunity to expand wind, solar and
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  other renewable sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and using
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  nuclear energy responsibly to fill gaps and ensure a stable
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  power supply. Modern nuclear technology is safer and more efficient
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  than ever, and facilities like buyern can play a key
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  role in keeping our lights on while we transition to
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  a cleaner, sustainable energy mix. The state should protect home
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  buyers and make housing more affordable for working families. That
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  means cracking down on predatory lending, reducing unnecessary fees, and
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  limiting the influence of private equity firms that drive up
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  housing costs. Illinois should also support programs that help first
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  time buyers preserve affordable housing and ensure communities remain vibrant
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  and accessible for everyone. Data centers can bring high paying
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  union jobs to our communities, but they also consume significant
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  energy and water. The state should require strong regulations to
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  limit water use, improve energy efficiency, and ensure these facilities
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  give back to the communities that host them. This includes
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  environmental commitments, local hiring, and support for infrastructure. By balancing
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  economic growth with environmental stewardship, Illinois can attract data centers
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  responsibly without overburdening families, municipalities, or natural resources. Any public
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  funding for a private stadium should benefit Illinois families and communities. First.
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  I support investments only when there is a clear return
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  for taxpayers, jobs, infrastructure improvements, or economic growth that directly
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  helps local communities. Taxpayer dollars should never subsidize private profits
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  without real measurable benefits for the people of the state. Yes,
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  As an educator, I believe teachers should guide how AI
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  is used in classrooms. AI can be a powerful to
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  but it must support learning, protect student privacy, and ensure
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  academic integrity. The state should set clear standards, provide training
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  and resources, and involve educators in every step so that
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  AI enhances education without replacing critical human guidance. Hey, the
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  majority of our donors are one time or grassroots contributors,
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  and we're grateful for every gift. Many of these supporters
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  are deeply involved in the campaign, volunteering their time and energy.
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  I'm also fortunate to have strong support from educators and
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  labor organizations across Illinois. Reflecting my years of service as
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  a teacher and union leader. I stay in regular communication
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  with all supporters to ensure transparency and keep them informed
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  about our priorities and progress.