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Is Becker running for Mayor of Apopka?

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Apopka Elections 2022

By Reggie Connell/Managing Editor of The Apopka Voice

To no one's surprise, Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson confirmed last week that he is running for a second term. Nelson has been in elected office since 2006 with successful runs for the Florida Legislature, the Orange County Commission, and the Apopka Mayoral election in 2018.

But who will run against him?

The Apopka Voice reached out to every member of the City Commission, and several other residents who have either ran for office or have been elected previously, and as of this writing, no one has announced a campaign against Nelson.

Commissioners Alexander H. Smith (Seat #1) and Diane Velazquez (Seat #2) each will be defending their seats in 2022, but both said they are not running for mayor in this upcoming election.

Commissioner Doug Bankson, who was re-elected to Seat #3 in 2020, also said he would not be running for mayor in this cycle.

Rod Love and Greg Jackson, the radio hosts of "Let's Talk About It" which airs on Monday nights and has a focus on Apopka, have often been rumored as potential candidates for the City Council. Love, who succeeded Nelson as Orange County Commissioner in District 2, and Jackson, who ran for the Florida Legislature in 2014 and 2016, both said they will not seek office in Apopka in 2022.

Former Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer also confirmed he would not run to re-take the position he held from 2014-2018.

Those of you paying close attention may have noticed a name missing from the list.

Good catch! But before you post that snide remark on Facebook about my fact-checking, read a little further.

Kyle Becker burst onto the Apopka political scene in 2016 with a shocking victory over 39-year Commissioner Bill Arrowsmith. He followed that term with a successful re-election campaign in 2020, receiving 62% of the vote against Lorena Potter to defend Seat #4 on the city commission.

And much like Nelson in 2018, Becker is the rumor mill's odds-on-favorite to take him on in 2022.

Becker's next election isn't until 2024, but does he have higher aspirations? Is a run for Apopka Mayor in his future? Is the speculation founded?

"I have been asked this question several times during my two terms as Commissioner, and I have provided the same response to every inquiry," Becker said in response. "That is to say if the person in the Mayor’s seat, regardless of who that might be, is taking our city in the direction it needs to go, aligns with the vision I have of our potential, and tactically performs the duties of the job as I would, there is no need to run for the position since I enjoy performing in my role as Commissioner of Seat 4."

Not the most black-and-white response to the question, but perhaps there is a little more clarity in the second half of his answer.

"However, I am fully confident in my abilities, my approach, and business skillset to lead a dynamic workforce for the betterment of our city and residents should I decide to pursue the great responsibility of serving as Mayor of Apopka."

A "definite maybe, but if I did run I am confident and qualified" kind of answer.

Much as the Kilsheimer v. Nelson matchup was speculated on until it was real, the Nelson v. Becker election is taking shape. And there are a lot of similarities.

Both candidates are undefeated in their political careers. Both have strong name recognition in Apopka. And like Kilsheimer, Becker is a longtime resident, but first-generation Apopkan, while the Nelson family have lived in Apopka for decades - reference Kit Land Nelson Park. This would be the third straight contrast in mayoral contests that pits a legacy candidate against a new breed of Apopkan.

So what would a Nelson-Becker election look like? When would the campaign start? What would the primary issues be? Would the battle be waged on the high or low ground?

You'll have to come back for part three of Apopka Elections 2022 to find out, where we take a deep dive into the Apopka political pool.

Apopka City Commissioner Alexander H. Smith, Apopka City Commissioner Diane Velazquez, Apopka City Commissioner Doug Bankson, Apopka City Commissioner Kyle Becker, Apopka Elections 2022, Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson, Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer, Elections 2022, Greg Jackson, Rod Love

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