Re-elect Kilsheimer in Apopka

Almost four years ago, Joe Kilsheimer ousted John Land as Apopka’s mayor after he had served more than 60 years in the job. Now Kilsheimer is facing a challenger of his own as he seeks a second four-year term in this nonpartisan race — election day is March 13 — in this city of about 50,000 people in west Orange County. Apopka was ripe for new leadership in 2014. But in 2018, we think voters in Orange County’s second-largest city would be wise to stick with their first-term mayor.

Kilsheimer’s opponent, Bryan Nelson, has set his sights on the mayor’s office in Apopka after a single term on the Orange County Commission and four terms in the Florida House. Nelson is a small businessman with deep roots in Apopka, but his arguments for unseating Kilsheimer just aren’t convincing.

Those arguments include accusing Kilsheimer of excessive spending. Yet even after a 2016 property tax increase, Apopka has the second-lowest millage rate among Orange County municipalities. The city has made forward-thinking investments under Kilsheimer to improve its police and fire protection, enhance recreation and upgrade other infrastructure, while maintaining reserves equal to 20 percent of its general fund budget.

Apopka has made some mistakes under Kilsheimer — a bad deal with a former administrator, for example — but the city is on the move. In December, a new branch of Florida Hospital opened on the city’s west side, and is likely to bring more jobs and investment to the area. Meanwhile, the mayor has announced a developer to repurpose the old hospital branch downtown. Construction on Apopka’s City Center project, stalled for years, is scheduled to begin this quarter. So is work on the city’s Station Street District.

Apopka is making progress under Kilsheimer. We recommend city voters give the mayor another four years.