Doug Homeyer is running for St. Petersburg City Council District 6 because he believes local government should focus on the issues that affect daily life.

City decisions shape whether residents can afford to live here, whether small businesses can grow here, whether families feel safe here, whether neighborhoods are protected from flooding and overdevelopment, and whether St. Petersburg can welcome visitors without losing the character that makes this community special.

Doug’s approach is built around a simple framework:

Live. Work. Play. Visit.

That means District 6 should be a place where residents can live with stability, work with opportunity, enjoy safe and vibrant public spaces, and welcome visitors in a way that strengthens the local economy while respecting the people who call this community home.

Doug believes good leadership starts with listening. These priorities will continue to be shaped by conversations with residents, neighborhood leaders, small business owners, workers, families, and community organizations throughout District 6.

Live

A strong city begins with stable neighborhoods.

For many residents, the biggest concern is whether they can continue to afford to live in St. Petersburg. Rising housing costs, insurance costs, property taxes, rent, utilities, and everyday expenses are putting pressure on families, seniors, workers, and small business owners.

Doug believes housing policy should focus on real people, not just development numbers. The city must encourage housing options that help residents stay in the community while also protecting neighborhood character, infrastructure, and quality of life.

Doug supports a practical approach to neighborhood stability that includes:

• Encouraging attainable housing options that help residents remain in St. Petersburg

• Supporting responsible density where it makes sense and where infrastructure can support it

• Protecting neighborhood character while recognizing that the city must plan for growth

• Addressing flooding, stormwater, drainage, and resilience as core neighborhood issues

• Improving sidewalks, streets, lighting, and public infrastructure

• Making city services more responsive and easier for residents to access

• Supporting public safety strategies that help residents feel secure in their homes, businesses, parks, and public spaces

For Doug, “Live” means making sure District 6 remains a place where people from different backgrounds, income levels, and stages of life can build a future.

Read more: District 6 Affordability Agenda

Affordability is more than housing. Doug’s affordability agenda looks at the full cost of living in District 6, including housing, rent, taxes, utilities, insurance, transportation, stormwater, infrastructure, small-business costs, and responsible growth.

Work

Local businesses and local workers are essential to the strength of District 6.

St. Petersburg’s economy depends on entrepreneurs, service workers, professionals, tradespeople, nonprofit workers, hospitality employees, artists, and small business owners. The city should be a place where people can start a business, grow a business, find meaningful work, and participate in the local economy.

Doug understands the importance of small businesses because he has been part of the local business community himself. He knows that business owners often face rising costs, staffing challenges, permitting delays, parking concerns, insurance pressures, and uncertainty about future city decisions.

Doug supports a local economy that works for residents by focusing on:

• Supporting small businesses and reducing unnecessary barriers where possible

• Making city processes more understandable, responsive, and efficient

• Encouraging responsible economic growth that creates opportunity for local workers

• Supporting workforce pathways, apprenticeships, internships, and job training partnerships

• Helping local businesses benefit from tourism, events, and city growth

• Considering the impact of city decisions on workers, business owners, customers, and neighborhoods

• Promoting fiscal responsibility so that public dollars are used carefully and effectively

A strong local economy should not only attract investment. It should help people who already live and work here participate in the city’s success.

Play

Quality of life is one of St. Petersburg’s greatest strengths.

People choose to live in St. Pete because of its neighborhoods, parks, waterfront, arts, culture, small businesses, restaurants, events, and community spaces. These assets are not extras. They are part of what makes the city healthy, connected, and vibrant.

Doug believes District 6 should have safe, clean, accessible spaces where people can gather, exercise, relax, celebrate, and connect with one another.

Doug supports quality of life investments that include:

• Maintaining and improving parks, recreation areas, and public spaces

• Supporting safe streets, sidewalks, crossings, lighting, and neighborhood connectivity

• Encouraging community events that bring residents together

• Protecting waterfront access and public gathering spaces

• Supporting arts, culture, local food, music, and neighborhood identity

• Making public spaces safe and welcoming for families, seniors, workers, young people, and visitors

• Addressing public safety and maintenance concerns before they become larger problems

For Doug, “Play” means more than recreation. It means protecting the everyday experiences that make St. Petersburg feel like home.

Visit

St. Petersburg is a destination, and tourism plays an important role in the local economy.

Visitors support restaurants, hotels, shops, museums, entertainment venues, service workers, artists, and local businesses. At the same time, tourism and growth must be managed carefully so they do not overwhelm neighborhoods, infrastructure, parking, public safety, or the daily lives of residents.

Doug believes St. Petersburg can welcome visitors while still putting residents first.

A balanced approach to visitation and growth should include:

• Supporting tourism and events that strengthen local businesses

• Making sure growth benefits residents and workers, not only outside interests

• Protecting neighborhood character and quality of life

• Planning for traffic, parking, safety, sanitation, and infrastructure impacts

• Encouraging visitors to support local businesses throughout the city

• Making sure public spaces remain accessible and enjoyable for residents

• Preserving the character and authenticity that make people want to visit St. Petersburg in the first place

Growth should strengthen the community. It should not price people out, strain infrastructure, or erase the local character that made St. Petersburg special.

A Practical, Listening-First Approach

Doug does not believe City Council should operate from City Hall alone. The best ideas often come from residents, business owners, neighborhood leaders, workers, nonprofit organizations, and people who experience city issues every day.

That is why this campaign is focused on listening.

Doug wants to hear what matters most to the people of District 6. Whether the issue is housing, traffic, flooding, public safety, local business, parks, development, or city services, residents deserve a Council member who is accessible, prepared, and willing to engage.

Doug’s goal is to bring practical, community-focused leadership to City Council by asking the right questions:

• How does this decision affect residents?

• How does it affect small businesses and workers?

• How does it affect neighborhoods and infrastructure?

• How does it affect affordability and long-term stability?

• How does it protect the character of St. Petersburg?

• How does it help District 6 remain a place where people can live, work, play, and visit with pride?

District 6 deserves leadership that listens first, works hard, and focuses on real solutions.

Tell Doug What Matters to You

Doug wants to hear directly from residents.

If you live, work, own a business, volunteer, or spend time in District 6, your perspective matters. Share your thoughts through the community survey and help shape the priorities of this campaign.