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Apopka interim City Administrator Radley Williams and Finance Director Blanche Sherman were both dismissed late Friday as Mayor Nick Nesta implements a restructuring at City Hall.
City spokesperson Steve Montiero said Saturday the city would have no comment on the changes, but he provided an email HR Director Joe Patton sent to city commissioners:
“On behalf of Mayor Nesta I want notify you that due to reorganization Radley Williams, Interim City Administrator and Blanche Sherman, Finance Director have been separated from employment effective October 1, 2026. Effective today they will be on paid administrative leave until that date. They have been given an option to accept a six week paid severance package, however they have chosen to take some time to review as allowed by law.”
Via text messages, Williams and Sherman both declined Apopka Chief requests for comment.
The leadership changes come more than five months after Nesta, a former city commissioner, ascended to mayor with a convincing win over challenger Christine Moore, 62% to 38%. The April runoff election came on the heels of a March municipal election in which voters chose to keep the strong mayor form of government it has had since the city’s founding.
Williams, who came to Apopka in 2020 after 18 years with the city of Lake Mary, had held the position of interim city administrator since April 2025, after former Mayor Bryan Nelson fired City Administrator Jacob Smith. In September 2025, the City Commission considered and then tabled a proposal to make Williams permanent.
Sherman had served as finance director since 2022. She took center stage in the runup to the March election after a November email surfaced showing she had accused then-Commissioner Nesta of “ongoing harassment and constant disrespectful treatment.” Nesta told the Chief she had never raised the issues with him and that, if elected, “My job is to work with anybody and everybody.”
The shakeup also comes a week after City Attorney Cliff Shepard announced his retirement, opening another leadership position with the city.
Nesta is scheduled to kick off his City Hall 101 Town Hall Series at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the city’s statement.
I just hope Mayor Nesta will beautify the city. Apopka has lost its Charm.