For Yesenia Baron, Apopka’s future comes down to intention

Yesenia Baron.

In Summary:

After narrowly losing a 2020 special election, Yesenia Baron is running again, this time for Seat 4 on the Apopka City Commission, citing concerns about planning, annexation, and downtown development. Baron says her experience in law enforcement and business has shaped a leadership style focused on collaboration, problem-solving, and long-term decision-making.

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In 2020, first-time candidate Yesenia Baron ran in a crowded field for Seat #2 on the Apopka City Commission. Ultimately, she lost to now Vice Mayor Diane Velázquez in a runoff, but her performance seemed to signal the emergence of a new name to be reckoned with in Apopka politics.

But then, the 2022 and 2024 election cycles came and went without Baron's name returning to the ballot.

Related: Baron, Harrison qualify for Apopka City Commission Seat #4 special election.

But for Baron, running for commission again isn't about seizing a political moment — it's about what happens when a city keeps growing, but the vision doesn't seem to grow with it.

"I've been watching," Baron said. "I wanted to see where Apopka was headed."

She sat out the last two elections, waiting to see whether the city's rapid growth would be matched with long-range planning, infrastructure investment, and a clearer sense of identity.

"I still see so much of our city's potential," she said. "But we need to be responsible in our planning — and I just haven't seen that happening. I'm focused on how decisions ripple years down the road. What we approve today shapes Apopka long after we're out of these seats."

Now, she is back, running for Seat 4 in a special election shaped by transition. She faces Malika Harrison, a community advocate and nonprofit leader. But for Baron, it's about running for the seat, not against the opponent, and how her decisions will impact Apopka now, and in the future.

"I'm focused on how decisions ripple years down the road," Baron said. "What we approve today shapes Apopka long after we're out of these seats."

Baron points to her career in law enforcement — including serving as a child abduction response team coordinator — as the foundation for how she approaches leadership.

"You're dealing with complex situations, high stakes, and a lot of moving parts," she said. "You don't solve those problems alone. You bring people together, stay focused, and make decisions that matter."

She believes that mindset translates directly to city government, where collaboration is often required across departments, agencies, and residents with competing interests. Her experience as a small business owner, she added, grounds her understanding of how policy decisions affect people trying to make a living locally.

"My priority is the residents," Baron said. "What they're asking for, and what they need — that's what should drive the conversation."

Rather than discouraging her, the 2020 loss clarified Baron's sense of Apopka — and her role in it.

"I learned where my strengths are, and where I needed to sharpen things," she said. "But more than that, I learned that Apopka has incredible people — talented residents, strong organizations, and a shared vision of what this city could be."

That vision, she said, hasn't changed: a walkable, connected downtown with places to gather, shop, eat, and stay — not just pass through.
"I want that live-here, work-here, play-here environment," Baron said. "One where we're leveraging local entrepreneurs and ecotourism instead of sending people — and dollars — to surrounding cities."

Baron supported hiring an economic development director, calling it essential if Apopka wants to compete with nearby cities that already have those tools in place. Where she draws concern is annexation and land-use decisions that move forward without a clear plan.

"I don't think it's appropriate to annex without really diving into what's going on there," she said. "You look up one day and there's an apartment complex next to a neighborhood, or a storage facility in the middle of it. That's not intentional planning."

Annexation, she said, should be strategic — not automatic.

Her downtown vision centers on connectivity, particularly linking the West Orange Trail more seamlessly into the downtown core. She imagines cyclists and visitors from Kelly Park and Rock Springs being drawn naturally into Apopka's restaurants and shops.

"If someone's riding the trail, they should feel invited to make that turn, grab coffee, have lunch, and keep going," Baron said.
She envisions boutiques, art galleries, and locally owned businesses filling that space — including Apopka entrepreneurs who currently operate elsewhere.

"We have the talent here," she said. "We just haven't created the environment to support it."

Baron has also raised concerns about how Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) dollars have been spent, saying the impact downtown remains difficult to see beyond the long-completed parking lot project.
She strongly supports finishing the long-discussed public safety building, calling it essential for morale and functionality.

"They've outgrown their space," she said. "They deserve a facility that supports training, collaboration, and growth."

Looking further ahead, Baron says she wants Apopka to become a destination — not a place people drive past on the way somewhere else.

"I want to see people walking, riding bikes, taking golf carts downtown," she said. "Enjoying what we've built together."

Among the initiatives Baron said she would support is bringing a YMCA to Apopka, which she views as an investment in families, recreation, and community connection.

"A YMCA strengthens families, activates our parks and recreation spaces, and keeps residents from having to leave the city for services," she said. "It also supports the live-here, work-here, play-here vision I'm committed to."

That emphasis on openness and responsibility, Baron said, ultimately defines how she views the role of a city commissioner.

"At the end of the day, this job is about trust," Baron said. "Transparency. Accountability. And being a voice for residents — especially for those who feel like they don't always have one."

As the 2026 election approaches, Baron is betting that voters are ready not just for growth — but for a clearer plan to guide it.

Key Points:

• Yesenia Baron last ran for office in a 2020 special election, losing by fewer than 1,000 votes.

• She says she waited to run again to see whether Apopka’s growth would be matched with thoughtful planning and infrastructure investment.

• Baron supports economic development efforts but has raised concerns about annexation decisions and the use of CRA funds.

• Her vision for downtown includes improved connectivity to the West Orange Trail, locally owned shops, and gathering spaces.

• Baron faces Malika Harrison in the Seat 4 race.