Nelson, Nolan, and Smith start their City Council terms today

The Apopka City Council Oath of Office Ceremony

Today at noon, Apopka Mayor-Elect Bryan Nelson and Commissioners-Elect Alice Nolan, and Alexander H. Smith will take their oath-of-office to join Commissioners Doug Bankson and Kyle Becker on the Apopka City Council. The ceremony is at the VFW/Apopka Community Center, 519 S. Central Ave. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m.

Nelson began his campaign for mayor at The Catfish Place in Apopka.

Bryan Nelson will become Apopka’s 24th mayor today

Judge Wayne C. Wooten will swear Nelson into office.

Nelson will be sworn-into office by Judge Wayne Wooten, the brother of Elaine Johnson from The Catfish Place, which is the venue Nelson began his campaign for Apopka Mayor in March of 2017. Nelson will use a Bible that originated from his wife Debbie's family. Wooten is an Orange County Ninth Circuit Court Judge.

For Alice Nolan, the second time was the charm

Nolan ran for Seat #3 on the Apopka City Commission in 2016 but was unsuccessful. However, in 2018, she defeated incumbent Commissioner Diane Velazquez and will take the oath-of-office from her husband Joe Nolan.

Commissioner-Elect Alice Nolan chose her husband Joe to swear her into office.

"I chose my husband to swear me in because we are a team," Nolan said. "From the day we met, we have held each other's hands in the lowest of times and in the highest of times. This moment in our lives I wanted him again beside me, holding my hand front and center."

Nolan chose a Catholic Bible that her husband Joe's family gifted them at their wedding to be a family Bible of their own.

Mr. Smith goes to the City Council

Alexander H. Smith will succeed six-term Commissioner Billie Dean on Seat #1 of the Apopka City Commission today with Dean's blessings.

Seat #1 Commissioner-Elect Alexander H. Smith

"I nurtured that young man from elementary, high school, college," said Dean. "I carried him to college. I consider him my surrogate son. Alexander will be an asset to this community. He's young. He was a teacher for 30 years. He is an Associate Pastor at New Hope Baptist Church and he has a lot of connection to this community. I think he is the ideal person to continue the legacy of Seat #1 and of Apopka."

Smith's pastor Dr. H.L. Dericho will swear him into office.

Smith's pastor, Reverend Dr. H.L. Dericho will swear him into office. He is the Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church where Smith joined in 1965.

"We will celebrate his 55th Pastoral Anniversary this year in August," said Smith. "He calls me his son in the Ministry and I'm honored to be such."

The Bible that Smith will use is one that was given to him by his grandfather Lymus Hendrix who, with his grandmother, raised him from birth to the age of 10.

Stay with The Apopka Voice for wall-to-wall coverage of the 2018 Apopka City Council Oath of Office Ceremony.