Michael J. Paulus Sr.: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: Michael J. Paulus Sr.
City: Lake Zurich
Office sought: Trustee for Village of Lake Zurich
Age: 41
Family: Wife - Amy (Branding) Paulus, and our combine family of 5 children. Morgan (17, LZHS Junior) Michael Jr. (16, LZHS Sophomore), Ava (15, LZHS Sophomore), Rylee (12, LZMSN) and Meredith (11, Wauconda MS).
Occupation: Telecommunications
Education: Graduate of Lake Zurich High School and the United States Navy
Civic involvement: Vice President for West Lake Beach Club, Social Media Directory for the Lake Property Owners Association, Volunteer for Lake Zurich Lions Club and Volunteer for Lake Zurich Boosters.
Previous elected offices held: None
Incumbent? No. If yes, when were you first elected?
Website: None
Facebook: facebook.com\LZValues
Titter: None
Issue questions
What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?
The issues most pressing in the Village are the downtown and lack of progress. The current board has had plenty of opportunities to improve upon the downtown look and feel. Their current "progress" has resulted in a crowded look in the downtown area with no retail being built, only residential. The growing amount of vape shops, and gas stations or Route 12 also need to be limited.
What makes you the best candidate for the job?
I believe I am an ideal candidate to represent the people of Lake Zurich as I am fresh with new ideas. I want to work for the residents of Lake Zurich by actively listening and implementing their concerns into positive changes that benefit both the village and the residents. I have a strong understanding of local government and a vested interest in the village. My grandfather, Henry J. Paulus was on the Lake Zurich village board for 28 years, 20 as the Mayor of Lake Zurich. I always knew that I wanted to be part of the local government and when the opportunity presented, I acted on it. Being in the United States Navy and serving aboard the USS Port Royal (CG-73) Pearl Harbor, Hawaii instilled strong values of honor, commitment, and courage. All of these values transition to public service and serving the great community of Lake Zurich.
Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.
When asked about my leadership style, I believe mine is a combination of Democratic and Transformational Leadership. Democratic leaders seek input from other members and work well to collaborate on specific issues in question before making a decision. Transformational leaders have the ability to make ideas and visions a reality by connecting with people. As like transformational leaders, I will not buy votes with false promises. I believe I must form a bond with residents by encouraging them to present their beliefs, new ideas, concerns or future visions. If I can rally people around those ideas, together we can create a movement that will take us places we have never been before in this village. An important part of the success of such local efforts is an informed, engaged and supportive public along with a village board with different opinions that foster friendly debates to discuss items that are up for discussion.
How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?
The village has room in its budget to be more fiscally responsible. There are several ways to do this, working for the Village for 18 years I know what items can be cut back and what is essential. The village has actually to listen to what the residents want. The residents want green space, beautification of the downtown area, dog parks, and dogs allowed in parks, they want to be heard and acknowledged, and right now some do not feel that way.
What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
The first idea is to house board of trustees that are not just a "rubber stamp board," by that I mean the residents of Lake Zurich deserve trustees that hold the village accountable, question decisions that are of concern for the residents and by discussing these items at village board meetings. I feel if residents feel heard and their concerns are validated it makes for a more harmonious relationship.