Former state representative Carol Sente has returned to the Vernon Hills Park District board. Sente, a Vernon Hills resident, who served on the park district board from 2004 to 2009, was appointed Thursday to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Commissioner Jim Ballowe. Sente served nearly 10 years as 59th District state representative before opting not to seek reelection.

Sente’s previous experience and passion for open space, lifelong fitness and environmental stewardship, were among the reasons she was appointed, according to the park district.

She owns a small management consulting practice.