| Carole Pankau | |
| State Senate: | Illinois |
| State: | Illinois |
| District: | 23rd |
| Term Start: | 2005 |
| Term End: | 2013 |
| Preceded: | Ray Soden |
| Succeeded: | Tom Cullerton |
| Birth Date: | 13 August 1947 |
| Birth Place: | Boone Grove, Indiana |
| Spouse: | Anthony John |
| Profession: | Politician |
| Party: | Republican |
Carole Pankau is a former Republican Illinois State Senator, representing the 23rd district from 2005 to 2013. Pankau previously served as State Representative from 1993 to 2005.
Pankau earned a B.S. in accounting from the University of Illinois. She served as a member of the DuPage County Board from 1984 to 1992 and prior to that served on the school board for Keeneyville School District 20. She was active as a precinct committeeman in the Republican organization in Bloomingdale Township. In the 1992 general election, Pankau was elected to represent the 45th district.[1]
In the 1992 general election, Pankau was elected to represent the 45th district.[1] During her tenure, she served on the Committees on Public Health (minority spokesperson); Appropriations III; Environment and Energy; Labor; Revenue. Pankau was a Republican candidate for DuPage County Chairman in 2010 but lost to Republican Daniel Cronin. Pankau lost Senate re-election in 2012 to Tom Cullerton.
Pankau was born August 13, 1947, in Valparaiso, Indiana. She has been married to Anthony John Pankau, Jr. since 1966. They have four grown children: John, Jason, Shay and Aaron. She has been a resident of DuPage County for more than 30 years. Pankau was a former owner-manager of an auto-body/towing business for 17 years.