Diana Shoemaker
My goal is to protect the investment you have made to live, work and
thrive in Manatee County.
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ABOUT DIANA
Longtime Bradenton resident and active community leader, Diana Shoemaker is running to restore the voice of District 3 voters whose concerns have been overlooked or simply ignored. Diana commits to leading her district with integrity, open dialogue, and attention to critical local issues necessary and to create fair and balanced policy.
Diana's passion for social justice and leadership started at a young age volunteering in her community and watching her mother work to establish a local nonprofit organization. Diana earned her master's degree from Columbia University and has more than 25 years of experience in community and educational program development and services.
Diana served as President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Manatee and earned a reputation as a consensus builder, working with municipal representatives and neighborhood residents to create affordable housing for Manatee County residents.
PROTECTING OUR WETLANDS
Wetlands are the heart of Manatee County’s natural beauty and allure. Wetlands are not only home for thousands of species plants and animals, they’re also natural water filters that absorb harmful nutrients before they reach our drinking water and water bodies. What’s more, wetlands help prevent flooding which is a common issue in low-lying coastal areas of District 3. Local leaders should be doing more, not less to protect our natural resources. Concerned residents have spoken loudly against diluting environmental protections to benefit development. We need to listen and take action that does more, not less to protect our most precious resource.
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS
Like many District 3 residents I’m deeply concerned and angered by County and State leaders' steps in 2023 to build a parking garage for 900 vehicles on Holmes Beach in spite of opposition from local officials and residents in this area of the county. Over and over again those most familiar with this problem tell us that traffic, not parking, is the issue. We need to listen to those voices and instead work together to find the most cost effective solutions that target the real problem and keep visitors coming to the island.
Improving traffic and pedestrian safety is enormously important to our residents. That’s why we should be working on creative solutions to eliminate dangerous incidents.
ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In Manatee and Sarasota counties, there’s a shortage of affordable housing for the workforce by more than 46,000 units. Roughly 40 percent of Manatee and Sarasota households spend more than 30 percent of their total annual salary on housing. Teachers, firefighters and police officers can hardly afford to live here.
My 12 years working with Habitat for Humanity and partnering on initiatives within our county and cities provided insight into the challenges and possibilities for housing in our community. However, our current housing trends which focus on a select few are doing little to meet the needs of our service professionals, working families or young professionals. What we need are balanced and focussed solutions that address our inevitable growth without jeopardizing the economic stability of our residents and ultimately our community.
EFFECTIVE AND TRANSPARENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EXPERIENCE
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Elders Action Network, Executive Director
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Habitat for Humanity Manatee, President & CEO (2009-2021)
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Family Promise of Manatee County, Director (2007-2009)
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Manatee County Affordable Housing Task Force, Chair (2016-2017)
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City of Bradenton Housing Advisory Committee, former member
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Bradenton Kiwanis, former member
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Leadership Manatee, Graduate Class of 2012-2013
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Executive Leadership Academy - Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, Graduate Class of 2017
MEET DIANA
Diana and her husband, Mark, moved to Bradenton in 1999 where they raised their two children, Kyle and Devin. Diana enjoys spending time with family, traveling, trail running and yoga.
She loves being outdoors anywhere in Manatee County, but especially at our beautiful beaches and in our public parks and conservation lands such as DeSoto National Park, Emerson Point and Bradenton's Riverwalk Park.
Diana is also an avid supporter of the performing arts and you can spot her performing in local productions at Anna Maria Island Players and Manatee Performing Arts Center.
"I love being in Manatee County where I can live, work and play in the sunshine and surrounded by amazing beauty." - Diana Shoemaker