Mission Statement
St Pete Shines is a Florida political committee dedicated to building a brighter future for the City of St. Petersburg and the people who call it home.
Our mission is straightforward: support the leaders, candidates, and organizations working to make St. Pete a stronger, safer, more affordable, and more vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family. From championing candidates who share our vision for the city, to partnering with community organizations that lift up our neighborhoods, we invest in the people and ideas that move St. Petersburg forward.
We believe in a St. Petersburg where every neighborhood thrives, every resident has the opportunity to succeed, and every voice is heard at City Hall. That belief shapes every endorsement we make, every campaign we support, and every cause we champion.
Whether the work is expanding access to affordable housing, strengthening our local economy, protecting our coastline, preparing for the next storm, or making sure city government truly serves the people, St Pete Shines stands with those committed to the long-term success of our community.
Together, we are working to make sure St. Pete continues to shine.
Charlie Crist’s Plan for
A Brighter St. Petersburg
Our city has been on pause. Here is the plan to restart the progress — a City Hall that works for the people of St. Petersburg. Open, accountable, and present.
An Open & Accountable City Hall
A Mayor who shows up, picks up the phone, and tells residents the truth.
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- Weekly Meet the Mayor sessions, open to any resident, rotating through every district
- A commitment to meet with every neighborhood association within the first year
- Public dashboards on permitting, code enforcement, and service response times, in plain language
- Neighborhood-level reports so residents can see how their tax dollars are spent
- Annual public reports on every major function of city government
- Hiring based on qualifications, with workplace standards enforced from the top down
Real Affordability
Affordability is the number one issue facing our city. It deserves a Mayor who treats it that way.
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- Cut the city operating millage rate by 0.40 mills, returning about $14.8 million a year to residents and small businesses
- Preserve full funding for police, fire, affordable housing, and storm recovery
- Fix the water billing crisis with digital meters that let residents track daily usage in real time
- A career of proven, market-based solutions that lower costs for working families
Hurricane Response & Resilience
Storms are a permanent part of life on the Gulf Coast. Our city government should be ready before they arrive.
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- A citywide opt-in text alert system for evacuations, shelters, and water and sewer status
- A real-time, neighborhood-by-neighborhood debris collection dashboard
- Pre-positioned debris contracts with surge capacity in place before every hurricane season
- Accelerated upgrades to critical infrastructure, starting with the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility
- Stormwater investment prioritized for flood-prone neighborhoods
- A Mayor present at the Emergency Operations Center and in affected neighborhoods, with public preparedness and after-action reports
Smart Growth in Every Neighborhood
Plan long-term, close the deals that create jobs, and invest in every neighborhood, not just downtown.
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- Stop losing major employers and the jobs that come with them
- Keep the Rays in St. Petersburg, where they belong
- Position St. Pete as a leader in Advanced Air Mobility and life sciences
- Support locally owned small businesses with streamlined permitting and a single point of contact
- Real investment in West St. Pete, South St. Pete, and the Gandy area
- Expand Complete Streets to the south-side corridors residents asked for, and repaint every school crosswalk before every school year
Opportunity Through Education
Strong schools and strong workforce pathways are how a city lifts families and attracts employers.
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- A citywide student mentorship program with a scholarship pipeline to a four-year degree
- Real apprenticeship pathways in the skilled trades, earn while you learn, with no student debt
- Recognition and support for St. Pete teachers, including a classroom grant fund
- Expanded after-school and summer programming, especially in West and South St. Pete
St. Pete’s best days are ahead. It’s time to restart the progress.