Kelli Stargel

Senator Kelli Stargel is Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Development and External Relations at Florida Polytechnic University. Prior to her work at Florida Poly, she served for 10 years in the Florida Senate and four years in the Florida House of Representatives.

While in the legislature, she served as chair of many committees including Education Innovation and Choice, Regulated Industries, Higher Education Policy, Finance and Tax, Education Appropriations, and finished her term in the Florida Senate as the 2020-2022 chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Stargel is a current appointee to the Governor’s Faith and Community Advisory Council, the Public Service Commission Nominating Council, and several community boards. She is a sixth-generation Floridian and a lifelong resident of the Tampa Bay area.

Stargel has received numerous awards from various organizations during her service in the Legislature. She has been recognized as a champion by the Associated Industries of Florida, Florida Realtors, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Health Care Association, Foundation for Florida’s Future, Parental Rights of Florida, Alzheimer’s Association and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She was legislator of the year for Florida Association of School Psychologists, Florida General Contractors, Manufacturers Association of Florida, Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, the Children’s Home Society, and Florida Virtual School. She also has had the distinct honor of receiving the Polk State College Presidential Eagle Award, Southeastern University President’s Award, Florida Family Policy Council’s William Wilberforce Award, and the United States Distance Learning Association Eagle Award.

Stargel is the past chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, former board member of Enterprise Florida and served on the Education Commission of the States.

While she is extremely grateful for the opportunities and accolades, she is primarily motivated by her family. Stargel and her husband of 41 years, Sixth District Court of Appeals Judge John Stargel, have five children and nine grandchildren.