About Paul Tubbs

A leader in the classroom

Paul was a hard worker from a very young age. When he was twelve years old, he would hitchhike to a golf course to work as a caddy, earning ninety cents for every nine holes. After three years, Paul was "promoted" to work in the clubhouse shining shoes.

After Paul graduated from high school at the age of 17, he worked in a canning factory for $1.15 per hour to earn money for college. Working at the canning factory was tough work and Paul would sometimes work 20 hour days. During college Paul tended bar and when there were no classes Paul would deliver flowers (poinsettias at Christmas, lilies at Easter). During summers after Paul was 18, work was available at the local paper mill. This developed into a full-time paper mill job so Paul could work nights and attend school during the day. Paul continued this routine until he received his Masters Degree in School Guidance and Counseling.

Following his graduation, Paul taught school for two years; then he became a school guidance counselor, and stayed in that position for twenty nine years. Twenty seven years of Paul's career as a guidance counselor were spent in Rhinelander after he moved there in 1976. In addition, Paul never took a summer off because he either taught summer school or worked with the youth placement program of the Wisconsin State Job Service. One summer school program was an innovative project to help control the rusty crayfish, an invasive species, on Lake George and Oneida Lake. This project, designed and supervised by Paul, employed at-risk youth several summers and significantly reduced the crayfish population to the point that native fish could adjust and control the crayfish population.

A leader in the community

Tubbs retired after over thirty years of teaching and counseling in 2003. However, Paul wanted to remain active in local affairs following his retirement. In 2004, he ran for and was elected to the Rhinelander School Board. He served the full three year term on the school board until 2007, but chose not to seek re-election to focus on his race for the 34^th Assembly District. During this same time, Tubbs was elected to the Cooperative Education Service Agency's Board of Control.

Beyond his career in local schools and his service on the Rhinelander School Board, Paul has long been involved in the community. He is a board member of the Town of Pelican Community Club, devoted to community service which focuses on projects to the township and especially Lake George. Paul is also I member of the Lake George Lake Association.

Paul's commitment to service started when he was a young man. Even though Paul worked his was through college, he still found time to serve the community. While in college he was an active member of a service club that conducted numerous service projects throughout the year including organizing the campus blood drive and engaging in philanthropy on behalf of the Boy and Girl Scouts of America.

A committed family man

Paul and his wife, Cheryl, live on Lake George in the Township of Pelican, just a few miles outside of the City of Rhinelander. Cheryl is a teacher in Three Lakes. Paul's son Boyd attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and now works in Madison, his daughter April attended Columbia and works in Manhattan. Cheryl's son, Paul's step-son, Chad Brown is a police officer for the city of Rhinelander.

What People Are Saying About Paul Tubbs:

"Paul Tubbs will be a tireless advocate for the Northwoods in the State Assembly. He will work to create good-paying jobs, improve our public schools and expand access to affordable, quality health care for Wisconsin families."
--- Paul Knuth, Chair of Oneida County Democratic Party