Carol Platt’s life has been profoundly shaped by service, hard work and knowing what it takes to make ends meet – in business and at home. She is passionate about great and effective government that serves the people – and deeply concerned that neither greatness nor service are values currently representing the 9th Congressional district. It’s what has motivated her to run, and it will be her compass when she serves.

Carol at a Glance

Growing up in North Carolina, Carol’s mother and father worked hard amid factory shutdowns and layoffs, with her father earning a living wherever possible as a cab driver, construction day laborer and custodian. Her Mom worked third shift to be home with Carol during the day. Her family rented fields and grew row crops in the summer. Her mother had a deep abiding faith that was lived out every day, not just on Sundays. They shared whatever they had with whomever was in their home, taking in family, foster children and recovering alcoholics. Service to others has always been a part of who Carol is.

Now, as the Association Executive of the Osceola County Association of REALTORS®, Carol serves over 1,900 active members, manages $1.6 million in assets, administers professional standards and operates a full educational and professional development program. She works with fifteen board members, special committees, task forces and manages a staff team of eight, all while staying within a budget and offering great service.

Carol has amassed a political service resume that is second to none. She’s served alongside Jeb Bush in all of his elections, chairing the Osceola and Polk campaign teams. She was asked to be the Osceola County and Polk County Co-Chair for the Bush/Cheney Presidential Campaigns. She was previously a delegate and alternate to three Republican National Conventions, representing Orange County, Osceola County, Polk County, Brevard County and Hillsborough County. She has been the Osceola County Republican Party Treasurer, Secretary, RPOF State Committeewoman, and RPOF Vice Chair in this region. The diversity of her political experience and relationships is built on service – and it is unmatched.

Carol has never run for political office, instead choosing a path of steady, faithful service to this point in her life. But now, Carol is ready to lead in Congress – and the time is right for someone like Carol Platt to bring real service back to elected office.

For more about Carol, see her detailed biography below.

Foundations and Early Life

Carol grew up in North Carolina. Her mother and father worked in the textile mills of Central Piedmont and adopted Carol shortly after she was born. They worked hard amid factory shutdowns and layoffs, with her father earning a living wherever possible as a cab driver, construction day laborer and custodian. Her Mom worked third shift to be home with Carol during the day or provided home care to terminal friends and family members. Her family rented fields and grew row crops in the summer. In every day that passes, she realizes that while they had little and often depended on friends, neighbors and churches for groceries, she had what was really important in life. Her mother shared a deep and abiding faith that lived every day in her heart, not just on Sundays. They shared whatever they had with whomever was in their home, taking in family, foster children and recovering alcoholics. Her love of education stems from parents who struggled as they entered the mills after completing fourth grade. Her mother told her that if she worked hard in school and in life, she could be and do anything!

Education

Carol shares an educational journey that mirrors many first-generation college students. She attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Rollins College in Central Florida, Brevard Community College and completed a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Human Resources) with a 4.0 GPA. She returned to Kaplan University to complete her Master’s in Higher Education Administration and Leadership and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Chicago, Graham School of Management. The National Association of REALTORS® has awarded Carol the designation of Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager and its fair housing trademark, At Home With Diversity.

Carol served on the Polk State College Board of Trustees. She is also the Former Chair of the Florida Association of Community College Trustees’ Commission.

Business

Carol Platt is currently the Association Executive of the Osceola County Association of REALTORS®. This association serves over 1,900 active members, manages $1.6 million in assets and has achieved numerous national awards, grants and strategic goals during her tenure. It administers professional standards hearings, which has the authority to levy both fines and reprimands for unethical business practice and operates a full educational and professional development program. She works with fifteen board members, special committees, task forces and manages a staff team of eight. Carol is the former President of the East Polk County Association of REALTORS®, covering Haines City, Lake Hamilton and Davenport.

For many years, Carol Platt was a licensed real estate broker in Central Florida, focusing on Central Florida project sales management with a sales and support staff team of 14, plus residential, commercial and land transactions. Her brokerage managed investment holdings, including two retail stores.

The Family Ranch

Carol and her husband, Shane, are partners in a family-owned cattle and citrus ranch that has been in continuous family ownership for over 135 years. It is one of Florida’s designated Pioneer Family Farms, winning the Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Environmental Leadership Award, the National Cattlemen Beef Association’s Region 2 Environmental Stewardship Award and the Florida Land Stewardship Partners’ Land Owner of the Year Award in 2013.

Carol and Shane have been married for 28 years and have two adult children: Josh, who works on the ranch and in Charlotte, N.C. and Jenna, who is a junior at Auburn University in Alabama. She and her family are outdoor enthusiasts, sportsmen and women and share a love for people and wildlife.

Political involvement

Carol’s first trip to Washington, D.C. was as a high school representative from the state of North Carolina. When a Congressman tells a 16-year-old that they can impact the world, anything can happen! Her parents were lifelong Democrats, but Carol registered as a Republican in Florida as she discovered that many of the concerns that she shared with her parents could be better served under the fiscal policies and personal freedom stances of the Republican Party.

Today, she fights for conservative Republican causes as she has for decades. Her experience has the benefit of both depth and time. Carol Platt was the Osceola County and Polk County Co-Chair for the Jeb Bush for Governor Campaigns. Additionally, she was asked to be the Osceola County and Polk County Co-Chair for the Bush/Cheney Presidential Campaigns, along with coordinating statewide coalitions. She was previously a delegate and alternate to three Republican National Conventions, representing Orange County, Osceola County, Polk County, Brevard County and Hillsborough County.

Mrs. Platt was the former Osceola County Republican Party Treasurer, Secretary, RPOF State Committeewoman, and RPOF Vice Chair in this region. She also served as a Precinct Committeewoman for the Polk County Republican Executive Committee. Her activities included serving as an officer of the Winter Haven Republican Women’s Club, Federated and as a member of the Osceola County Republican Women’s Club and Orange County Republican Women’s Club, Federated. She is currently a member of the Osceola County Republican Women’s Network, Dr. Phillips-Windermere Republican Women’s Network and the Orlando Republican Women’s Network. Her political involvement also includes Florida Family Policy Council, Citizens for a Sound Economy, Polk Citizens for Good Government Coalition, Foundation for Florida’s Future and Floridians for Smart Growth.

Her business advocacy includes the National Association of REALTORS®, Florida REALTORS®, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Wedgeworth Leadership Institute (in support of University of Florida-IFAS), South Brevard Chamber of Commerce, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Kissimmee-Osceola Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Cattlemen’s and Cattlewomen’s Association and Florida Farm Bureau. She served on the Public Policy Committee for the American Association of Community College Trustees.

She is a member of the National Rifle Association and has a concealed weapons permit.

Serving the Community

Carol has served in many community and service organizations in Central Florida, representing a diverse group of people and interests. Carol has served on the Osceola County Board of Adjustments, helping property owners and the county. She is a former participant in the Osceola County Vision Task Force, and a former member of the Polk Vision Task Force. In addition, Carol is a former youth mentor in the Polk County School Board in their Youth Motivator Program and has volunteered in local schools, Girl Scouts, Boy/Cub Scouts and ROTC. As a member of the Junior League of South Brevard, she helped found a local shelter, Haven for Children. She is a member of the Silver Spurs Riding Club that produces the largest rodeo in the Southeast and contributes to local youth, scholarships, equestrian sports and agricultural activities. She is a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce, St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce and the South Central Advisory Board of the Central Florida Partnership.