Jon Maples was born and raised in Panama City, Florida. One of four boys, Jon spent the summers working with his dad in the family irrigation business. He grew up learning the value of hard work, faith, and personal responsibility, and set a goal of being the first in his family to earn a college degree.

Athletics opened the door to opportunity for Jon. He excelled at football and basketball in high school and earned a basketball scholarship to Palm Beach Atlantic University, where he served as team captain and was named an All-American. More importantly, it’s where he met his wife, Kristi. After graduation, the two settled in northern Palm Beach County to build their life, their careers, and their family together.

Jon is running for the Florida House because he sees firsthand how the rapid growth of our state has left too many families behind.

Residents face congested roads, polluted waterways, and families are facing a perfect storm of affordability challenges, from inflation to soaring insurance premiums to ever-increasing property taxes.

Tallahassee’s “wait your turn” approach to solving problems isn’t working. Jon is running to change that. 

More than anything, Jon is passionate about strengthening Florida’s families. He believes every child deserves a strong role model and a chance to thrive. That means building a culture that rewards leadership, personal responsibility, and civic engagement — values that lift the next generation and secure Florida’s future.