APOPKA, Fla. — The recall effort against Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson is still seeking hundreds of signatures ahead of a Friday afternoon deadline.

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The grassroots group has collected slightly more than 1,500 signatures since organizers announced the effort April 19. The activists said they needed 1,806 in order to continue.

“We’re pushing as hard as we can to do the best we can,” Dennis New reported.

New and others have given more than a dozen reasons for Nelson’s removal. However, the effort is tied to his refusal to fire the city’s fire chief and attorney after votes of no confidence by the city council, amid outrage over the messy handling of the aftermath of firefighter Austin Duran’s death on duty.

READ: Apopka citizens launch recall effort against mayor

The city attorney later resigned.

“[Nelson] doesn’t seem to want to listen to anything. It’s his way or the highway,” New said. “We will continue to fight whether we’re successful or not. We will continue to stand up and use our civil rights.”

Nelson hasn’t commented on the effort to WFTV, but he wrote rebuttals to several newspapers.

READ: Apopka mayor: Fire chief, city attorney to keep jobs despite demands to remove them

Nelson said his job as a strong mayor gives him greater constitutional authority over personnel matters, and he has guided the city properly during his tenure.

He also mentioned the city gives a greater proportion of its money to first responders than others in Central Florida.

READ: Austin Duran death: Consultant review on ‘dysfunctional’ Apopka Fire Department to be released

New said his team will push until the last hour, but if they don’t cross the finish line, all the signatures collected will be destroyed to avoid retaliation.

If he is successful, his team will have to gather three times as many signatures in the next two months to force a vote.

Video: Austin Duran death: Apopka City Council votes to remove Fire Chief Sean Wylam The Apopka City Council passed a vote of “no confidence” in its fire chief. (WFTV)

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