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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 16, 2003
ST. LEO -- The first resident of the new Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club development to join the Town Commission was sworn in Monday night and got right to work.
John M. Fantone, 59, won a place on the five-member commission this winter when he was the only one to file for the seat vacated by Brent Sutton.
Fantone, development director at Saint Leo University, moved to the Lake Jovita development in 2001 and lost his first bid for office narrowly last year to Commissioner Richard Christmas.
As Monday's meeting opened, Fantone stood for the oath of office, vowing to "support, protect and defend the Constitution and government of the United States of America and the state of Florida and the charter and ordinances of St. Leo against all enemies, domestic and foreign."
Mayor Janis Klingle also took the oath as she returned without opposition to the seat she has held since 1989.
Fantone wasted no time taking an active role on the board, seconding Christmas' motion to approve the monthly finance report.
Fantone said he enjoyed Monday's meeting and was eager to get to work. He said he plans on bringing up new items as he becomes acclimated to the board. "It wasn't as scary as I thought," he said.
In other business Monday, commissioners hired Jules Frese to be the town's new building official, in charge of reviewing plans for new construction and inspecting homes and other buildings as they are constructed.
Frese replaces Joe Creech, who announced he would be stepping down this year for personal and health reasons.
Creech endorsed Frese and said he has worked with him in the past and would assist in the transition, especially with the ongoing dormitory construction at Saint Leo University.