By Reggie Connell, Managing Editor
Here we are, 25 days away from a historic runoff election in Apopka, and counting!
A little over a week ago, Apopka voters spoke decisively. Yes, it’s ironic to describe an election that didn’t choose a winner as decisive, but it was as close to a mandate as results seem to get these days. Two-term Mayor Bryan Nelson finished third on Election Day with 74% of the record 8,100+ voters casting a ballot against him.
That is perhaps the clearest indicator that Apopka is seeking a change in leadership, as it has ever done in its 144-year history. The question that remains in this runoff is who represents change?
Apopka City Commissioner Nick Nesta and Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore will now face off for what is essentially an open seat. This creates an interesting sprint to their election date, and a true opportunity for voters to set aside the past and look to the future of their city.
Elections are almost always forward-looking, and this one clearly signals that voters are ready to consider something different. This moment is an opportunity for both candidates and for the community. There is no incumbent advantage, no established path. Just 25 days, two candidates, and a decision that will shape Apopka’s next four years.
That should make this a campaign about ideas, priorities, and vision. However, if you’ve followed the news since Election Day, you know that hasn’t entirely been the case. Instead, much of the early runoff conversation has centered on issues that, realistically, won’t matter once one of these candidates gavels in their first City Council meeting as mayor in May.
What you will care about is much simpler.
You’ll care about the utility bill that shows up every month, higher than it used to be.
You’ll care about the traffic you sit in every morning during your commute to work.
You’ll care about what downtown Apopka looks like as you drive past it on your way to Winter Garden, Mount Dora, or Altamonte Springs.
That’s what this election is really about, and yet, here we are.
One of the biggest storylines involves real estate transactions from a few years ago, when Commissioner Nick Nesta served as a broker on homes purchased by Chris Delgado, who is now facing federal fraud charges. Delgado also donated to Nesta’s previous campaign, as well as to other Republican candidates across the state, including Rep. Doug Bankson and the Florida Republican Party, according to reports in a Florida Politics article.
For full disclosure, Delgado also advertised in The Apopka Voice during his 2022 campaign for Orange County Commission.
Another major headline has been Nelson’s endorsement of Moore. Just three days after the election, Nelson publicly backed her candidacy, and that endorsement quickly became part of the runoff conversation.
In both cases, what voters choose to do with that information is entirely up to them.
If you supported Nelson and now support Moore because of that endorsement, that choice is yours. Whether the endorsement changes your vote — or doesn’t — is a decision each voter makes individually.
The same applies to the Delgado story. Some voters may factor it into their decision, while others may not. Even how you view where that information is published may shape how you interpret it.
That’s how elections work. Every voter processes information differently, bringing their own priorities, experiences, and judgment into the ballot box.
But beyond the noise — beyond the distractions, the side stories, the moments that dominate a news cycle — the central questions remain.
Who can lower your water bill?
Who can manage infrastructure in a growing city?
Who can lead the City Commission — not just sit on it?
Who can run a city government effectively?
Who has a vision for Apopka’s future?
Who can manage a budget with discipline?
Who can lead Apopka with integrity?
The answer to these questions will matter long after April 14.
And since the conversation around this election has also turned toward media coverage, it’s worth addressing that as well. I’ve also experienced the wrath of social media after publishing articles critical of Moore, Nelson, and Nesta. And that’s okay. The Apopka Voice is an online news site dedicated to telling the story of Apopka - your hometown. So if you are critical of us, we understand. But let me explain a few things.
There are two types of articles - news and editorial.
When I write editorials, I offer opinions, but those opinions are grounded in facts. My criticisms of Mayor Nelson were not personal; they were based on policy decisions, budget strategies, and the workplace environment at City Hall. In our State of the City series, we laid out those concerns and gave him every opportunity to respond.
As for the news articles we choose to publish, it’s important to understand that The Apopka Voice selects its coverage each day based on its relevance to the community and public interest. Likewise, when we report the results of an election, it should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the outcome, but rather as a report of what happened.
The Apopka Voice reported on Commissioner Nadia Anderson’s allegations against Nesta. We also reported on the Orlando Sentinel’s coverage of Nesta’s real estate transactions with Chris Delgado. We also reported on Nelson’s endorsement of Moore. That does not mean we are asking you to believe or disbelieve those claims, or to weigh them in your decision on April 14. It means that when a commissioner makes an accusation from the dais and Central Florida’s largest news organization reports on a mayoral candidate, we have an obligation to report it.
What you do with that information is entirely up to you.
And that brings us back to where we started. This election is historic, but it’s also a reset — a chance to move past the noise and focus on what matters most.
Two candidates. One city. Four years. The future of Apopka.
The rest is up to you.
