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# Candidate profile: Doug Trussler
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/candidate-profile-doug-trussler/
- Published: 2026-10-05T17:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-09T17:23:00.000Z
- Author: Matthew Hall

Doug Trussler positions himself as the "non-political outsider" and finance expert with a mandate to fix the city’s budget. With 35 years of experience in private equity, he views the city’s current fiscal state as a crisis requiring professional intervention.

Position summaries

Homelessness: Trussler proposes a rigorous audit of all non-profits receiving city funds and the implementation of curfews on the city’s beaches. He believes the city should pay only for "outcomes" rather than servicing the population indefinitely.

Crime & Public Safety: He argues that lowering crime is the prerequisite for restoring tourist confidence and ensuring the city’s long-term economic survival. Trussler credits the current chief with making progress but insists that crime levels remain unacceptably high compared to regional neighbors.

Housing Construction: His platform supports high-density downtown construction of 3,000 to 5,000 units to meet state requirements without straining residential infrastructure. He advocates for replacing lost office workers with new downtown residents to revitalize the local retail economy.

Economic Recovery: He focuses on maximizing tourism tax revenue and has proposed the creation of a "community bank" to provide local liquidity. Trussler believes the city must diversify its revenue streams to protect against future economic shocks.

Governmental Philosophy: Trussler’s philosophy is entirely data-driven, treating municipal governance with the same rigor as a private business turnaround. He believes the "best ideas" have been discarded in favor of politics and seeks to restore meritocracy to the dais.

Qualifications & Narrative 

A 20-year resident and co-founder of Bison Capital, Trussler specializes in "fixing" complex business situations. His motivation for running was triggered by the city's declaration of fiscal distress and his belief that the city is currently the "Hawaii of homelessness"—a service magnet that attracts rather than resolves the crisis. Trussler is heavily involved in youth sports, spending hours each week with AYSO, and uses this community connection to argue that the city lacks a coherent five-year plan. He contends that his professional experience with pension funds and insurance companies makes him uniquely qualified to address the city’s $30–35 million annual shortfall. Trussler frames his candidacy as a "pure perspective," free from developer affiliations or political aspirations, focused solely on using data to right-size expenses and maximize the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). He asserts that the ship doesn’t move without a data-driven leader willing to challenge the status quo.