Local

No winner in Apopka's mayoral race; Run-off election to be held

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — There was no winner in Apopka's mayoral election Tuesday after no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote.

The city will hold a run-off election for mayor on April 8.

Mayor John Land, who has led the city for 65 years, had three opponents in Tuesday's election. It was the first time Land had faced challengers since 2002.

Land's strongest competitor, Joe Kilsheimer, received 48 percent of the vote, while Land got 38 percent of the vote.

"I felt fairly confident but I never did feel like we had it one hundred percent," Land said. "But we're going to go after the votes we didn't get and we'll come out victorious."
Kilsheimer said although Land is an "institution" in Apopka, many are ready for change.

"There's thousands of people in Apopka who are ready for a new direction and so we're going to make that case in the next month," Kilsheimer said.

Mayoral candidate Glen Chancy received 10 percent of the vote and Gregg Phillips got 4 percent.

In another central Florida election, Eric Eisnaugle won the vote to run for the seat vacated by former State Rep. Steve Precourt. Eisnaugle will run against Democrate Shaun Raja in the April 8 general election.

Precourt resigned his seat when he was offered the executive director's position at the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. Precourt later declined the job.

Voters in Belle Isle, Edgewood, Maitland, Winter Garden and Winter Park also voted Tuesday.

Results: Orange County Election Results