Kilsheimer in Apopka

As Apopka’s mayor for all but three years since 1949, John Land is a lifelong public servant. But with Land facing his first serious challenge in more than a decade — Tuesday is election day — his long experience isn’t a good enough reason for voters to award him another four-year term.

We believe one of his three challengers, City Commissioner Joe Kilsheimer, is a better choice to lead Orange County’s secondlargest city into the future.

Kilsheimer, a 25-year resident of Apopka who runs a publicrelations firm, recognizes that the city trails other Central Florida municipalities in developing its downtown and reaching its economic potential. He has innovative, promising ideas, including transit-oriented development and a new wellness center to fill the gap that will be left when Florida Hospital relocates from its campus near downtown.

Kilsheimer pledges to maintain the city’s low tax rate but grow revenue by attracting more businesses. He would bring energy and urgency that have been missing from the mayor’s office.

In a meeting at the Sentinel this week, Land blamed the city’s drab downtown, with its downscale shopping and dining options, on the four-lane state highway that runs through it. The state “need[s] to give us our Main Street back,” he said. But he has had years to work on that and other shortcomings in the city.

At a recent candidates’ forum, Land urged the crowd to vote against change. We think the city deserves better than the status quo

We endorse Joe Kilsheimer for mayor of Apopka.