Paula Stark is a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 47, serving areas including most of St. Cloud, eastern Kissimmee in north-central Osceola County, and Meadow Woods in south-central Orange County. Born on April 11, 1957, in Dothan, Alabama, she assumed office on November 8, 2022, becoming the first Republican to declare in the newly drawn district. She resides in St. Cloud, Florida, and has two children: Nicholas B. Stark and Taylor A. Stark. Notable achievements include her 29-year career at the Osceola News Gazette, where she rose from advertising and sales to publisher before retiring in 2012, and her role since 2012 as Executive Director of St. Cloud Main Street, focusing on economic development, historic preservation, and revitalization. She is also an author and former Miss Osceola High School .

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida, where she was Miss OHS; attended Florida Technological University .
• Political Experience: Elected to the Florida House of Representatives for District 47 in November 2022; currently serving in the 2024-2026 term under Speaker Perez. Prior civic leadership includes her work as a St. Cloud civic leader.