DeKalb County Board member, Jeff Metzger Sr. (R-Sandwich) decided to run for the state House seat in the 90th District.

Metzger served on the DeKalb County Board for the last six years and worked at Elgin Community College for 32 years.

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to represent the 90th District, and I look forward to working with all the constituents,” Metzger said. “I have what it takes to properly represent the citizens of the 90th [district], and I am committed to act on their behalf for the needs of the district.”

Metzger said he has experience in education working at Elgin Community College and in the political environment as a county board member. He also worked in health and human services by acting as both chairman and vice chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board.

Fellow DeKalb County Board member Riley Oncken said Metzger’s experience may give him an edge.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Jeff on the Board for the past few years,” Oncken said. “His dedication to his district and to DeKalb County as a whole will certainly serve him well in his campaign.”

Metzger decided to run because he felt the citizens of Illinois needed new representation.

“I believe the leadership in Springfield has lost touch with the people they represent,” Metzger said. “I am committed to change that, when I am elected, by working to improve the business environment and reduce the tax burden by bringing integrity back to Springfield.”

Metzger said his platform will be no new taxes.

“Illinois cannot tax its way to recovery, and we need to increase the tax base by creating jobs,” Metzger said. “I will fight for spending cuts, tax cuts, and job creation. Taxing business, large and small, does not create jobs. It removes critical capital that businesses use to create jobs and encourages those small businesses to leave the state.”

Another former colleague, Paul Stoddard, DeKalb County Board member, said he worked with Metzger for the six years on both the county board and the Health and Human Services Committee.

“The county board’s loss will be the state’s gain,” Stoddard said. “We will miss him, but if he winds up in Springfield, the state will be better off.”