Terri Balliet’s campaign for St. Petersburg City Council District 6 is beginning to take clearer form, with an endorsement from State Senator Darryl Rouson and a growing fundraising base.
Rouson, a longtime figure in Pinellas County politics and a consistent voice on issues like housing, criminal justice reform and behavioral health, backed Balliet this week.
“I’ve had the privilege of knowing Terri Balliet both professionally and personally, and I can say without hesitation that she leads with consistency and integrity,” Rouson said.
“Her experience as a nonprofit CEO … combined with her work advocating for meaningful legislative change, makes her exactly the kind of leader St. Petersburg needs on City Council.”
His endorsement carries weight locally, as Rouson has built a reputation in St. Petersburg as a policy-focused legislator with deep ties to community organizations and advocacy work, particularly around substance abuse, mental health and underserved populations, issues that often intersect with municipal governance.
Balliet’s background aligns with much of that work. She currently serves as a nonprofit executive, working with children and families while managing large budgets and navigating complex service systems, an experience she has said is directly transferable to city governance.
The endorsement comes as Balliet’s latest campaign finance report shows steady early momentum.
According to her Q1 filing, Balliet raised just over $11,000 between January and March, bringing her total contributions to more than $42,000 to date. Her campaign reported roughly $10,000 in expenditures during the quarter, with total spending exceeding $20,000 so far.