Baron wrote in an Apopka Chief candidate questionnaire<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0running because I believe we can move Apopka forward with purpose, by planning our growth responsibly,\u00a0developing our downtown and creating opportunities for families and small businesses right here at home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\nVelazquez, the longest-tenured city commissioner, ran on a platform of implementing written administrative policies to boost good governance and trust from the community.\u00a0She\u00a0coasted to\u00a0an easy win in a three-way race, capturing 57.96% (4,485) of the vote, outpacing challengers Angela Turner (22.43%, 1,736 votes) and George Smith\u00a0(19.6%, 1,517 votes).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to Apopka for showing up for their support and trust in my leadership,\u201d Velazquez said in a statement to the Chief. \u201cI look forward to continue to serve our residents and our beautiful city of Apopka.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Voters\u00a0went to the polls with the rare opportunity to choose four of the five votes on the City Council. Those\u00a0who spoke to\u00a0the\u00a0Chief expressed consistent concern about development in the city and the way the\u00a0current\u00a0council has managed it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are growing\u00a0very, very fast, and our infrastructure is not keeping up with it,\u201d Annette Allport said after voting at the Community Center\u00a0on Tuesday. \u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0feel that the\u00a0City\u00a0Council at this point has really, really been looking at that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orlando Matta said he and his wife carefully evaluated each of the candidates looking for leaders who would\u00a0ensure new businesses and development would contribute without negatively\u00a0impacting\u00a0current residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were checking pros and cons on all of them, and even though they were similar, we voted for the ones that\u00a0want\u00a0Apopka\u00a0growing\u00a0in an intelligent way,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Most of the winning candidates addressed the issue in some way. Ruth said\u00a0while knocking on hundreds of doors, he heard that\u00a0not everyone is against all development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was lack of infrastructure to support the development,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you\u2019re adding rooftops and not adding infrastructure, you\u2019re hurting existing people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014 With reporting from Sarah Merly<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
J.C. Derrick is publisher for The Apopka Chief. He spent 18 years covering sports, education, and politics in Texas and Washington, D.C., before joining The Apopka Chief in 2025. J.C. is a member of the Florida Press Association Board of Directors.<\/p>\n
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![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Web-Photo-26-1024x683.png\")
Sam Ruth, Diane Velazquez, and Yesenia Baron won the Apopka City Council race Tuesday night.<\/p>\n