Hi, I'm Paul.
I have lived and worked in Central Illinois for over forty-five years. As a small business owner, an economic development professional, and a public servant, I am motivated by one common theme: making our community a better place.
My predecessor Senator Scott Bennett was a dear friend, and I am dedicated to upholding his legacy as a genuinely caring public servant who engaged with everyone. He demonstrated that it’s possible to disagree without being disagreeable, and that common ground does exist in a world dominated by partisan politics.
Economic Development
As a former restaurant owner of Nikki B’s Cafe, Buena Vista Banquet Center, and Catering and the City of New Orleans Restaurant and Bar, I know first-hand how hard small business owners work and what they need to succeed.
I took this knowledge and served three Illinois government agencies in community and economic development roles: the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Illinois State Treasurer's Office. In these roles, I helped secure $10.2 million for economic development projects in Central Illinois that created over 280 new jobs and protected 480 existing jobs.
Public Service
In 2011, I was elected to the Champaign City Council and served as Deputy Mayor, where I made my constituents my number one priority, going to residents’ homes to learn their opinions and concerns.
In 2018, I was elected as the Assessor of the City of Champaign Township, where I worked for four years to openly and accurately assess property values so that homeowners and small businesses can rest assured that their property tax bills are calculated fairly.
Over the last thirty years, I have been fortunate to be a part of the following organizations:
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Champaign County Board, Member
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Champaign County Alliance, Member
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Eastern Illinois Economic Development Association, Board member
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Champaign County FIRST, DCEO Representative
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Champaign County United Way’s Cradle2Career, Founding member
Family
I live in Champaign with my wife of 18 years Stephanie, my daughter Ellie, and our two dogs, Hammy and Zuzu.
Education
I have an Associate’s degree from Parkland College and a B.S. in Applied Life Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
I hold certifications from the National Development Council as an official Economic Development Professional and the Illinois Property Assessment Institute as an Illinois Assessing Officer.
