Apopka Mayor John Land, believed to be the nation’s oldest and Florida’s longest-serving mayor, wants another four years.

Land, who turned 93 in November, will seek his 20th term as mayor of Orange County’s second-largest city. He filed paperwork Thursday to establish a campaign treasury for his latest bid. He has served as the mayor of Apopka for 61 years, including the last 42 in a row.

“After the sacrifices we’ve had to make over the last few years during this recession…we’re in a little growth mode now as a city,” he said, explaining his decision. “It’s kind of exciting. I want to be part of it.”

He cited planned improvements to the downtown and proposed development of Kelly Park Crossings, the billion-dollar project of homes, shops and employment opportunities on Apopka’s north end, where toll-road designers have sited the sole interchange along a 15-mile stretch of the Wekiva Parkway.

Land has not been opposed in an election since 2002 when he whipped former Orange County Commissioner Tom Dorman.

Click here for the story in Orlando Sentinel

 

Apopka Mayor John Land, 93, to run again – Orlando Sentinel
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