Candidate for
Board Member; Tustin Unified School District

Paul Whitely is a native Californian. He entered the US Marine Corps in 1980, and when transferred to Tustin in 1982, married Lesa, a Tustin High alumnus. Shortly after their marriage, Lesa's mother passed away from cancer, and at the age of 22, they took over the responsibility of raising Chris, Lesas' brother who was a 12 year old Tustin Memorial Student.

While raising Chris, Paul served at MCAS El Toro, where his job duties included being an electrician, mechanic, and legal clerk. Then Paul was deployed to Iwakuni, Japan where he volunteered during his off time, at a school in Hiroshima and at an orphanage for handicapped children. Upon arriving back to the United States, Paul was then transferred to Camp Pendleton where he had the task of guarding the detainees at the Correctional Custody Facility. Then later he was transferred to the Aircraft Carrier CV-61, USS Ranger, where he again visited Japan and Korea. In 1990 Paul received his honorable Discharge, and began to raise their new daughter Elizabeth, who was about a year old.

After his discharge, Paul received his AS from Irvine Valley, just before receiving employment at the City of Huntington Beach, where he is currently employed. His duties involve designing street and city improvements, creating and maintaining projects costs, and obtaining grant reimbursements that have totaled over $2.8 million dollars since he started this assignment in 2001.

In 1998, Paul then began attending the local universities, where his pursuit changed with the addition of a second child, Daniel.

Today, Elizabeth attends Tustin High School, and Daniel attends Redhill Elementary. His experience of raising children in the Tustin Unified District of 20 years to date, and the 11 years to come demonstrates that he is willing to provide the Dedication, Commitment and Caring that this district needs.