New Mayor for Apopka; Orlando's District 5 Race Heads for Run Off
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
By: Matthew Peddie

April 8th, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando- (with reporting by Brendan Byrne and Nicole Creston) Apopka residents have voted in former former city commissioner Joe Kilsheimer as mayor, ending the six decade tenure of John Land.

Joe Kilsheimer captured 54% of the vote to John Land's 46% in Tuesday's runoff election. 

With the exception of only one term, 93-year-old Land has been Apopka’s mayor since 1950. 

Land campaigned on his experience, while Kilsheimer said the city needs to grow in the right way. 

In an interview with 90.7 News earlier this month Kilsheimer said it was time for a new direction for the city.

He said he was focused on developing Apopka’s downtown as a way to keep residents to stay in the city for shopping and dining.

"How can we make it possible for all residents of Apopka to connect in a way that makes them feel like they’re welcome and a part of the community,' said Kilsheimer. 

He also advocated for better city government transparency and term limits for elected city officials. 

In other municipal elections in Orange County, the race for the Orlando city commision seat in District 5 is heading for a runoff election. 

Juan Lynum is vying for the District 5 seat held by his mother, Daisy Lynum, but finished just 37 votes ahead of his nearest rival Regina Hill. 

Neither Hill nor Lynum secured more than 50% of the votes, so a runoff election will be held May 6th. 

Meanwhile, in the race for Florida House District 44 Republican Eric Eisnaugle comfortably beat his Democratic rival Shaun Raja to take the seat formerly held by Steve Precourt.