{"id":250393,"date":"2026-04-29T00:12:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T00:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/250393\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T00:12:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T00:12:09","slug":"apopka-swears-in-new-mayor-commissioners-before-hundreds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/250393\/","title":{"rendered":"Apopka swears in new\u00a0mayor, commissioners\u00a0before\u00a0hundreds\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

With applause echoing through a packed Apopka Community Center, the city formally swore in a new mayor and three commissioners\u00a0on\u00a0Tuesday, marking a leadership transition following the\u00a0March general election<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0April runoff election<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Apopka Community Center\u00a0had\u00a0originally\u00a0been\u00a0prepared for 150 guests, but at least twice that number attended the oath of office\u00a0ceremony.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

State Trooper and News 6 traffic anchor Steve Montiero, who emceed the event, pointed to the overflow crowd as a sign of civic engagement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look around in this room, they had to add about 40 extra chairs,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then we got crews standing in the back there.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nick Nesta was sworn in as mayor, transitioning from his\u00a0previous\u00a0role\u00a0as a city commissioner,\u00a0alongside Commissioner Sam Ruth\u00a0for\u00a0Seat 1, Commissioner Diane Velazquez\u00a0for\u00a0Seat 2, and Commissioner Yesenia \u201cJesi\u201d Baron\u00a0for\u00a0Seat 4. Commissioner Nadia Anderson\u00a0for\u00a0Seat 3, who was not up for election,\u00a0also attended the ceremony.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The ceremony proceeded with the administration of oaths to each commissioner before concluding with the mayor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ruth, a lifelong Apopka resident returning to the dais after a decade, struck a tone of gratitude and community focus in his remarks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe victory of this is not mine alone. It\u2019s everybody in this room,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to thank you all for wanting to put\u00a0Apopka first. It\u2019s what makes me wake up every day and want to come back every day to it, because I love this town, I love the community, and I love the people that are here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Velazquez, who was elected to her third term in Seat 2, emphasized continuity in public service and the importance of voter participation. She was first elected to the seat in 2014 and served until 2018, when she was appointed to the Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission. She returned to the Apopka City Commission in 2020 and has since continued representing Seat 2.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been an honor and a privilege to continue to serve you,\u201d\u00a0the vice mayor\u00a0said. \u201cAt the end of the day, we are the closest to you. We affect you. We are in your home every day.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Velazquez also reflected on her long-standing working relationship with Nesta, noting that their time running for and serving on the commission together shaped her confidence in his leadership as he steps into the mayor\u2019s role.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only was he my co-commissioner early on in my career,\u00a0he was\u00a0one of my opponents,\u201d Velazquez said. \u201cI remember when your little girls were born, and I came to you and said, \u2018I still\u00a0want you to run. I still want you to come into the commission,\u2019 and I supported you when you ran.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Baron\u00a0was\u00a0newly elected to Seat 4\u00a0in a special election\u00a0for\u00a0Nesta\u2019s seat, which he\u00a0resigned\u00a0from\u00a0to run for mayor this past election cycle. She\u00a0described the moment as both personal and collective, pointing to the support she saw throughout the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so honored and privileged to be here,\u201d Baron said. \u201cI am going to make sure that I represent each and every one of you.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

She added that she intends to approach the role with a sense of responsibility and collaboration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s move forward together,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Following the commissioners, Nesta took the oath of office and delivered remarks outlining his vision for the city\u2019s future.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here. We did it,\u201d Nesta said, calling the occasion \u201ca monumental event in the history of Apopka.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

He framed\u00a0the election results as a turning point.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe residents of Apopka are ready for change and a new path forward,\u201d Nesta said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

He acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasized a commitment to transparency and accountability.\u00a0He also\u00a0outlined priorities that included infrastructure improvements, expanded park amenities, economic development\u00a0incentives,\u00a0and changes to the city\u2019s budgeting process to allow earlier input from commissioners and residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat really excites me the most is that we\u2019ll be able to preserve our history and teach our\u00a0youth\u00a0how we\u2019ve gotten to where\u00a0we\u2019re at\u00a0today and\u00a0show how we can work together to build a better, brighter Apopka,\u201d\u00a0he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The ceremony concluded with a ceremonial cake cutting and an invitation for residents to meet the newly sworn-in officials\u00a0\u2013\u00a0a moment\u00a0that\u00a0organizers framed as an extension of the engagement seen throughout the event.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see what engagement has done,\u201d\u00a0Montiero\u00a0said. \u201cIt\u2019s this turnout.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.<\/p>\n

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