Paula Stark
{{Short description|Florida politician and author}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Paula A. Stark
| image = City_dsc_1882_copy-removebg.jpg
| district = 47th
| state_house = Florida
| term_start = November 8, 2022
| term_end =
| predecessor = Anna Eskamani
| successor =
| party = Republican
| birth_place = Dothan, Alabama, U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|4|11}}
| residence = St. Cloud, Florida
}}
Paula Allene Stark is an American politician and member of the Florida House of Representatives for the 47th district. She was first elected to office on November 8, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Paula Stark |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Paula_Stark |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}
Early life and education
Paula Stark was born in Dothan, Alabama. The former Miss Osceola graduated from Osceola High School in Kissimmee Florida and attended Florida Technological University.{{Cite web |last=riverrat |date=2022-06-20 |title=St. Cloud Main Street Executive Director Paula Stark files to run for new Florida House District 47 |url=https://www.positivelyosceola.com/st-cloud-main-street-executive-director-paula-stark-files-to-run-for-new-florida-house-district-47/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Positively Osceola |language=en-US}}
Career
In 2022 Stark filed to run for Florida state house representative for district 47 and won election{{Cite web |last=Ogles |first=Jacob |date=2022-11-09 |title=Paula Stark secures GOP win in deep blue HD 47 |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/570600-paula-stark-secures-gop-win-in-deep-blue-hd-47/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Florida Politics |language=en-US}} in November of that year.{{Cite web |title=Paula A. Stark - 2022 - 2024 ( Speaker Renner ) |url=https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4878&sui=8F39b744mBI=- |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=www.myfloridahouse.gov |language=en-US}}
Stark is the executive director of St. Cloud Main Street as of 2022{{Cite web |last=keith |date=2020-01-02 |title=2020 - Dawn of a Decade: Paula Stark works to bridge past and present at St. Cloud's Main Street |url=https://www.positivelyosceola.com/2020-dawn-of-a-decade-paula-stark-works-to-bridge-past-and-present-at-st-clouds-main-street/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Positively Osceola |language=en-US}} and was the publisher of the Osceola News Gazette.{{Cite web |last=Powers |first=Scott |date=2022-06-02 |title=Republican Paula Stark files to run in HD 47 |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/529233-republican-paula-stark-files-to-run-in-hd-47/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Florida Politics |language=en-US}} She retired in 2012.{{Cite web |last=riverrat |date=2022-06-20 |title=St. Cloud Main Street Executive Director Paula Stark files to run for new Florida House District 47 |url=https://www.positivelyosceola.com/st-cloud-main-street-executive-director-paula-stark-files-to-run-for-new-florida-house-district-47/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Positively Osceola |language=en-US}}
Stark filed for re-election in June 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-09 |title=Stark Readies Re-Election Bid |url=https://www.newsserviceflorida.com/latest/briefs/stark-readies-re-election-bid/article_08065598-06d6-11ee-a626-e3819143a9d0.html |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=News Service of Florida |language=en}} Paula Stark won re-election on November 5, 2024 for Florida House District 47 despite Democrat voter advantage.{{Cite web |last=Ogles |first=Jacob |date=2024-11-06 |title=Paula Stark wins re-election, keeping HD 47 red despite Democratic voter advantage |url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/706048-maria-revelles-hd-47-paula-stark/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Florida Politics |language=en-US}}
Representative Paula Stark's big achievement of the 2024 Florida House session was working to pass her House Bill 613, the “Mobile Home Park Lot Tenancies” in the 2024 Florida Legislature and the law became effective on July 1, 2024.{{Cite web |last=riverrat |date=2024-06-19 |title=State Rep. Paula Stark Engages St. Cloud Mobile Home Residents on New Law and Expanded Rights |url=https://www.positivelyosceola.com/state-rep-paula-stark-engages-st-cloud-mobile-home-residents-on-new-law-and-expanded-rights/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Positively Osceola |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Florida House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stark, Paula}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Florida House of Representatives
Category:Women state legislators in Florida
Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature
Category:21st-century American women politicians
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