Kane County Reporter

Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen won an Illinois State Senate seat the only way he knew how - he knocked on doors and told his constituents “I promise that I’ll work hard," he says.

After serving 20 years in the Illinois Senate, Lauzen was elected Kane County Board Chairman in 2012.

Lauzen said Kane County’s property taxes had been raised by 50 percent under the previous board chairman. Since he has stepped into the role, Lauzen said the county tax levy has been frozen for eight consecutive budget periods.

Chris Lauzen | Board Chairman's Office

“Where we come from, the nickels and dimes matter,” Lauzen told the Kane County Reporter. “We’ve cut the public debt by 67 percent.”

Lauzen says he learned the value of a dollar from his father, a decorated World War II veteran who, following his military career, was a McDonald’s franchisor. When Lauzen, who has a background in accounting, and his wife, Sarah, went to his father to purchase a franchise of their own, there was no “family discount” to be had.

Lauzen said his father often told a story about a time when he questioned a professor about “who takes care of the little guy?” Discouraged by the professor’s response that no one does, Lauzen said his father set out to change that in his own business affairs.

“Franchisees were the heroes,” Lauzen said.

When he started to hear more and more people complaining about Illinois taxes, Lauzen said he decided to run for state Senate to try to address the issue for those same “little guy(s).”

“I went in as a reformer,” he said, although Lauzen was quick to point out that job proved more difficult than he’d imagined.

In county government, Lauzen said “balance is important.” He said Kane County’s government is run by a diverse group of individuals, noting that “people are willing to give so much.”

Lauzen also credits his colleagues for the county’s success.

“Our board and I and our staff, we’ve done a heck of a job,” he said.

Lauzen’s term as Kane County Board Chairman expires in 2020.

According to a biography provided by Lauzen’s office, “Chris was born and raised in Aurora, earning his bachelor of science degree with honors from Duke University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is a certified public accountant awarded by the University of Illinois.”

Chris and Sarah Lauzen have four sons, two daughters-in-law and three grandchildren.