In a little over a week, Apopka voters will head to the polls to select two commissioners and cast their vote for mayor.

  • Commr. Bryan Nelson, current Mayor Joe Kilsheimer run for mayor
  • Candidates offer different visions on spending, growth
  • General election March 13; for more info, visit the city’s website

“This election boils down to the people who want to take Apopka back, versus the people who want to keep Apopka moving forward," said Joe Kilsheimer. “What I tell people is that if you come to Apopka today, you’re getting on the ground floor of something big.”

Three and a half year ago, Kilsheimer took over as mayor, a role held by his predecessor, John Land, for 61 years.

“When I got to city hall, I found there was a sense of complacency that has settled in among the staff, I think because the mayor had been there so long. I took it as my job to get Apopka moving forward again," said Kilsheimer, who has lived in Apopka for the last 30 years.

The mayor deployed a city-wide survey to residents and determined through the resulting Grow Apopka 2025 vision plan that people wanted to preserve the city's small town feel, while still preparing for growth.

Kilsheimer said his team focused on activity nodes, like by the new hospital, downtown and Kelly Park Road, hoping to spur development. They began investing in "critical infrastructure," such as two new fire stations.

“If we don’t set ourselves up for success, we’ll be caught behind the eight-ball," he said. “I think that’s our job now."

But his opponent, Bryan Nelson doesn't view the spending through the same lens, calling the plunge into the reserves irresponsible.

"We've gone from $41 million in reserves and by the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, we'll be down below $3 million," Nelson said. "In good times, which is what we're in today, is not the time to spend reserves. The time you spend reserves is when things are tough."

He said "fixing the financial situation" was the primary reason he decided to run for mayor, even offering to cut his own salary in half in order to get Apopka's "fiscal house in order."

From a family foliage business to eight years as a State Representative, then several more as Commissioner for Orange County District 2, Nelson said that he, too, hopes to maintain Apopka's small-town feel, while supporting growth in a responsible way.

Walking around a park named for his aunt, Kit Land Nelson — eight blocks away from where he was born and across the street from his insurance agency — the commissioner said that he wants to make Apopka the best it can be.

"We need civility, we need to bring the community back together," he said. "There's a lot of divisiveness here."

"If he was getting a grade on his homework, he's be getting an F," said Kilsheimer, refuting his opponent's claim that Apopka is in dire straits financially.

The mayor would not answer where reserves stood at the time being. He said Apopka remains above the level recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association, and pending projects, like a city center deal he said is "ready to go," will replenish the fund.

In other areas, like Lake Apopka North Shore, Kilsheimer said that he could imagine new industries taking shape.

"We think there is a potential to attract people to an ecotourism facility as a jumping off point for guided tours," he said. "I want to see our projects through."

The general election for the city is March 13. For more information, visit the city of Apopka’s website.