Rachel grew up in San Rafael, where public service was a family-held value. Her father and brother are firefighters; her grandmother was a teacher, one grandfather was a mounted police officer, and the other was a union plumber. The Novato City Council appointed Rachel to the Novato Planning Commission, where she served for two years. The Board of Supervisors appointed Rachel to the Mental Health Board, where she authored a resolution and advocated for converting the Mental Health Board to a Behavioral Health Board. Rachel is passionate about environmental policy and met with members of congress to discuss climate change. Rachel bought her first condo in 2007 in Novato and is currently raising her two children, Ethan and Amelia, with her husband, Colm.