Nolan wins Seat #2 runoff over Velazquez

Decision Apopka 2018

Alice Nolan, the challenger for the Seat #2 City Commission, rode the momentum of her narrow victory in the March 13th general election to again edge incumbent Commissioner Diane Velazquez in the runoff election today and claim Seat #2 on the City Council.

Commissioner-Elect Alice Nolan

Nolan received 1,702 votes (58.95%) in the runoff, compared to Velazquez with 1,185 (41.05%). It was less than half the votes cast in the general election on a rainy day that saw only 1,000 voters come out to cast their ballots, which combined with 1,889 early voting and mail-in ballots accounted for the smallest turnout (2,889 voters) for an Apopka municipal election since 2012.

Velazquez, who defeated then-incumbent Commissioner Marilyn Ustler-McQueen in the 2014 Seat #2 election, served one term on the City Council. This was the sixth straight loss for Apopka incumbents in elections dating back to 2014.

Apopka City Commissioner Diane Velazquez

Nolan, the 29-year-old sixth-generation Apopka resident that joined the Seat #2 City Commission race during the last week of qualifying, will join a City Council which is now made up entirely of first-term members.

This is a breaking story. Check back tomorrow with The Apopka Voice for more details on the 2018 Apopka City Commission Seat #2 runoff.