Rachel Plakon is a lifelong conservative and respected community leader.
Today she owns a real estate investment company and brokerage firm, but Rachel’s entrepreneurial spirit and servant’s heart was sparked long ago. Throughout her life, Rachel's family was always helping those in need. People would often show up at their home, and she never remembers them turning anyone away who asked for help. Her grandfather and father both served in the military. Inspired by her family, Rachel's public service started early in life. At the age of just 11, she helped found a youth drug prevention program that was endorsed by the Florida Sheriffs Association and earned national recognition.
After graduating in 2001 with high honors with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Media Communications, Rachel returned to her native Florida to work with the Governor's child mentoring initiative.
Rachel started her first business in 2004 flipping houses. She went from cleaning and fixing toilets and drywall to building successful companies. In 2016, while still running her business, Rachel began working as a Land Specialist with one of Central Florida’s top commercial real estate brokerages - NAI Realvest. The Orlando-Sanford International Airport was among her major clients. She also continued her service as an active volunteer in civic and charitable causes.
A former vice chair of a local Planning and Zoning Board, Rachel was tapped by successive House Speakers to serve on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. In that role, she helped make recommendations to the Governor and legislature about state issues affecting women. In 2019, she was appointed to a statewide commission commemorating the 19th Amendment to US Constitution - the women's right to vote.
While local residents struggled to cope with the pandemic and resulting shutdown, Rachel helped deliver life-saving medicine and groceries to our most needy neighbors. In September 2020, she also led a heralded relief effort from Seminole County to her hometown of Bonifay after Hurricane Sally devastated the region.
Rachel is the daughter of a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, and both parents are second-generation timber farmers. She has served on the Board of Directors of Business Force and Project Opioid, and holds a Corporate M.B.A. from Florida International University.
Married to widower Scott Plakon since 2019, she became part of a family that includes six children and four grandchildren. Rachel and Scott have a daughter of their own, Gracie.
Chosen to Serve,
Driven to Help
LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
That's why Representative Plakon has been a champion for lower taxes and strengthening taxpayer rights. Since she was elected to office, she has voted for record tax cuts of $4.2 billion dollars for Florida's workers and families, including reductions on tolls, permanent tax cuts on baby supplies, and sales tax holidays for school supplies, hurricane supplies, and tools and equipment.
Representative Plakon also voted for RECORD increases in teacher salaries, and believes Florida should continue to raise salaries.
In just one term as our State Representative, she has made her mark as a respected leader who has sponsored and passed 7 bills.
Representative Plakon has passed some of the most substantial legislation for law and order in the Florida House including HB 1589 to help stop illegal immigration into Florida, a bill Governor DeSantis said will “reduce criminal aliens” and “be a disincentive for them to come to Florida.”
Her bill HB 365 "Controlled Substances" helps hold all drug dealers accountable. The bill gained support from the Florida Sheriffs Association, and was featured on the official podcast, where the group's spokesperson praised the Representative for her responses during the lengthy questioning on the House floor.
The bill was not her first crusade against the drug crisis. Over 34 years ago, as a child, she helped found an anti-drug campaign, also endorsed by The Florida Sheriffs Association, and starred in a PSA with local children. HB 365 was also endorsed by Attorney General Ashley Moody, Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, and was filed in collaboration with Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma.
Representative Plakon continued her anti-drug work this session with HB 89 “Revive Awareness Day” and HB 1595 “Controlled Substances,” a bill she collaborated on with Attorney General Ashley Moody that outlawed tianeptine, also known as "gas-station heroin."
She has worked across the aisle on these issues, as well as, to advocate for persons with disabilities, clean water, victim's rights and other bi-partisan issues.
Representative Plakon is also the co-sponsor of a number of other bills ranging from school choice, earlier retirement for first responders, dental services for veterans, "9/11 Heroes Day,” pro-business legislation, increasing teacher pay, and legislation to help fix the insurance crisis.
She has received numerous awards including the “Freedom Champion” award from AFP, “Defender of Limited Government” award from ILA and a “Pearl of Seminole” award, an honor for women who make a difference for Seminole County.
Representative Plakon has secured millions of dollars to benefit our North Seminole County district including projects to help persons with disabilities, clean water and help tackle the opioid epidemic.
