Seat #1 on the Apopka City Commission is steeped in history and tradition. In many ways, it embodies all that is great about Apopka. Seat #1 was held by two iconic political figures for the past five decades - Alonzo Williams and Billie Dean. Williams served from 1970-1994. He was the first African-American to hold office in Apopka. After his retirement, Dean won the seat and held it for six terms until he announced he would not run for re-election in 2018. Both men championed their causes with a full-throated voice and with passion - particularly as it applied to South Apopka issues.
But just as Apopka transitions from a small town to a city whose growth seems to know no boundaries, change is inevitable on the City Commission. Dean's presence on the City Council will be difficult to replace, but now there are three candidates who are aiming to try.
Suzanne Kidd, a 16-year resident of Apopka and a former public school teacher for 30 years, filed for the City Commission Seat #1 election last week and held her first fundraiser the next day. She joins Gene Knight and Alexander Smith in the race.
She reveres the idea of succeeding Dean and sitting in Seat#1.
"Commissioner Dean is a larger-than-life figure on the Apopka City Council. He has devoted close to 24 years to the betterment of Apopka, advocating fiercely for Apopka's youth and for our minority communities. As a lifetime educator in Apopka, Commissioner Dean has made a lasting impact on the lives of his students. If Apopka chooses me to fill Seat 1 next March, I will proudly strive to be as dedicated as he has been to the betterment of ALL of Apopka. It would be an honor to follow his years of diligent service and I welcome his advice and guidance."
Orange County School Board member Christine Moore spoke at the fundraiser on Kidd's behalf.
"There is no one who comes more prepared," Moore said before an audience of friends, family and supporters at Kidd's fundraiser held at the Errol Estate Clubhouse. "If you ever need anything, ask her. There is no one who works harder. No one more qualified than Sue Kidd. I hope you support her."
Preparation and qualification are the cornerstones of Kidd's campaign. She has been an active participant in her homeowners’ association and Apopka civic affairs. She attends nearly every City Council meeting, Planning Commission meetings, budget workshops, and has served on numerous City committees, most recently chairing the City’s Visioning Steering Committee. She currently works with Habitat for Humanity to help provide more affordable housing to Apopka and teaches interior design to Habitat homeowners.
She believes her knowledge of Apopka will be an asset on the City Council.
Christine Moore - "There is no one who comes more prepared. There is no one who works harder. No one more qualified than Sue Kidd. I hope you support her."
"I love Apopka, it's the place my family and I call home," said Kidd. "I want to put my lifetime of living, and my years of experience as a designer and educator to work making Apopka the best city it can be for ALL of our residents. I want to use the knowledge of what our City's needs are, and the hopes and dreams our residents have shared with me, to help our City make the right decisions about growth that will shape Apopka's future."
Kidd is pledging to analyze plans rigorously and ensure that the right decisions are made for Apopka and that tax dollars are being used effectively.
"I am ready to work for the residents of Apopka from day one,” she said. “I believe that by working together we can create a brighter future for our community while honoring Apopka’s beautiful, historic legacy. If I am elected, my priority for the City of Apopka will be to independently analyze the plans and ideas that come before the Council, as well as gathering the input of residents, other commissioners, and experts. I have maintained a productive relationship with the City Council for years by attending every meeting and sharing my own positions and reasoning. This means I certainly have not agreed with every proposed decision.
Kidd has been in support of Mayor Joe Kilsheimer on many issues facing Apopka but points out that does not make her a rubber-stamp for any issue he or anyone may bring before the Council.
"I spoke up against the original style of the City Center that the mayor had supported, but the Council ultimately supported it," she said. "In another example, I disagreed with aspects of the proposed "Welcome to Apopka" signage in July that resulted in sending the project back for revisions. These instances and others have allowed me to work with leaders I disagree with to contribute to a resolution. The issues that come before the Council affect everyone in Apopka, and our residents expect commissioners to put their needs first. I am running because residents' needs will always be my highest priority. The only reason I would be in lockstep with someone is if I think that's the right step to take for the betterment of Apopka in the first place. The responsibility of a city commissioner is to look at the issue and analyze it from as many points of view as they can and come to a reasonable decision. I'm an independent thinker and my opinions on issues are my own."
The budget, millage rate, reserves, and tax base are important issues that Kidd believes will shape Apopka's future.
"I can completely empathize with anyone that doesn't want to see their taxes raised," she said. "I'm an Apopka resident myself, and I don't want to have my taxes raised anymore than anyone else does. At the same time the City... like every city... has a responsibility to address certain core functions - the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. 62% of the current operating budget is going to police, fire, and EMS operations, which leaves 38% for all the other departments the City has to operate. I took a look at my tax bill, and only 9-10% of the property taxes cover the City's operating costs. 26% is going to Orange County. That's a fact that I think people don't realize, and they think that a slight increase in the millage rate is going to have huge implications when in fact it's not that significant at all."
Kidd believes economic development is the answer to Apopka's budget shortfall.
"At some point if we're going to be competitive with the other 80 cities in Central Florida, particularly the ones nearby around the 429, we'll have to be smart about growing our revenue. We have to go after as much economic development as we can, because that's going to raise the base on where we draw our revenue. That's where the focus has to be. That will take care of the shortfalls that we've had."
Kidd sees Apopka as being in the transitional phase of infusing the values that made Apopka great in the past with the booming growth that is coming at present and into the future.
"Apopka is on the cusp of huge growth, and with growth and change you need a City Council that has a lot of ability to analyze what those changes are and to deliberate about it. I look at my background in design and in attending all of the city functions for the last four years and I've really learned a lot about the city. But in learning all of that, and seeing where things are going... sometimes you have to step up to the plate. My background always taught me that 'to those that much has been given, much is expected'. And I've really lived my life by that philosophy. I feel I have a lot to give to Apopka in helping to make sure the growth and change is going to be of a positive nature and is going to keep this city moving forward. City government will continue to make important decisions regarding the City’s future. We have the potential to attract jobs and amenities to create a better quality of life for everyone. We have to have a strong vision in place, and elected officials with the judgement to make the key decisions to get there. My extensive history of participation in Apopka civic affairs has given me the knowledge and experience necessary to assess the issues facing Apopka."
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