Meet
Doug

Doug Bankson is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Victory Church World Outreach Center located in Apopka, Florida.  He currently serves his community as Apopka City Commissioner (Seat 3) and is now running for Florida House Representative, District 39.
 
During his career, Doug’s natural leadership ability has helped him oversee many ministry and business initiatives as well as numerous construction projects and local outreaches. Through his vision and oversight, the ministry he founded also expanded into the realms of providing care and education with services ranging from daycare, K-12 private education, and even college instruction. Drawing on his ministerial and business experience, Doug has had the opportunity to oversee large budgets, gaining significant executive experience in both management and team building.
 
As Doug and his ministries became more and more involved in Apopka, community leaders began to increasingly call on Doug to serve in various voluntary civic leadership capacities including but not limited to: serving on multiple city planning boards and committees, participating in first responders programs, producing and assisting with community wide events, and more. Doug also became involved with the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce, where he has served as Chairman of the board of directors. He has been very involved in the rebranding and marketing of Apopka and is an active member of the chamber’s economic development committee. Prior to ever holding public office, Doug’s deep commitment to the community was evidenced by the many individuals and businesses he helped guide to success.  Through his own voluntary actions and endeavors, Doug has been instrumental in producing hundreds of jobs for the local area.
 
With over three decades of service and a first-hand knowledge of the needs of the community, Doug began to feel the calling toward public service in the local political arena. In 2015, he announced entry into the race for Apopka City Council Seat #3 and, after running a notedly clean and open-hearted campaign, Apopka citizens elected Doug Bankson as their choice for local leadership. Since then, Doug has worked tirelessly together with his fellow commissioners and community leaders to bring about a brighter future for all of Apopka. As much as has been accomplished, Doug's focus is now on what lies ahead as he intends to advocate for the future of Apopka and all of northwest Orange County as State House Representative for the newly mapped out District 39.
 
Doug has been honored with numerous awards and been recognized for both his personal and community contributions. He was the Valedictorian of his senior class, and, after going on to complete his master’s degree through Life Christian University, Doug was also awarded an honorary doctorate based upon his years of experience and ministry both locally and abroad. He is a graduate of the inaugural class of Leadership Apopka, and has completed the first three levels of the Florida League of Cities Leadership courses. Doug is also an accomplished singer/songwriter as well as a published author and an instrument-rated pilot.
 
Doug and his wife, Jeri, will have been married for 35 years as of May 2022.  They have 4 grown children, a son in law and 2 daughters in law, and a wonderful granddaughter, Ellie. Doug and Jeri also have a feisty little yorkie named Milo.