As a young woman, I was a committed activist and every politician’s worst nightmare. I never imagined that one day I would run for office myself. I was more comfortable holding a picket sign than shaking hands with voters.
But in 2001, I ran for Village Trustee in Lake in the Hills. I won that race, placing first in a field of seven candidates. Since then I have won two more elections for Village Board and four elections for County Board. My success would have been impossible without my supporters and friends. Together, we really have made a difference.
I intended for November of 2022 to be the end of my time in public office. But as Fall turned to Winter, I heard of the increasing discontent among students and parents in Huntley Schools. I learned enrollment was down, but taxes were going up. I discovered that chronic absenteeism among our high school students is nearly 25 percent. Something wasn't adding up.
I decided that the only way to get to the bottom of these issues was to run for the Huntley School Board. So that's what I am doing. This is a chance for all of us to restore trust in our leadership and focus on excellent education for every child.
I hope you will support me in this endeavor. Thank you.
About Paula
Paula Yensen has always been involved in her community, first as an activist and volunteer, and more recently as an elected official. She's traveled to Uganda, Peru and Guatemala to help build infrastructure for schools and small villages. She's been a national volunteer advisor for Girl Scouts, and delivered Thanksgiving meals to shut-ins and the poor. At the local level, Paula believes we can leverage this kind of community involvement with government resources to make a lasting difference.
In 2001 Paula made the decision to run for the Lake in the Hills Village Board because she was interested in preserving the environmental quality of our community. She worked hard to listen to the voters during the campaign, and made a promise to represent their concerns. Against all odds, she won that campaign and served two terms on the Village Board. She has now been elected four times to the McHenry County Board, in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. Now she is running for Huntley School Board to continue her deep commitment to public service.
Paula believes that government must be focused on service to the public. Her simple philosophy: "Be fair, be effective, and respect the taxpayer."
All of us are being forced to tighten our belts, and local government must learn to do more with less. Paula knows how to balance budgets. The answer is not more taxes, it’s better, smarter government. Parents, teachers and students must be partners in the journey toward excellence in education.
“Men and women of good will can work together to solve problems and make our schools the best they can be.”
During this unprecedented time of crisis for the world, Paula has continued her involvement with local organizations who are making a difference. She's helped senior citizens learn how to be safer during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she has worked with county government to deliver much-needed funding to local non-profits. She continues to serve on the McHenry County Mental Health Board and the Senior Services Grant Commission, as well as Age Guide (formerly the Area Agency on Aging).