We’d like to congratulate all five Fruitland Park commissioners for taking part in a historic meeting this past week that saw the face of the governing body drastically change because of the desires of its residents.
First, the obvious – Villagers Peter DeGrave and John Mobilian were sworn in as the first-ever residents of Florida’s Friendliest Hometown to serve on the commission. DeGrave, of the Village of Pine Ridge, ran unopposed in District 1, while Mobilian, of the Village of Pine Hills, defeated formidable challenger Fred Collins to take the District 2 seat.
For those who might not be aware of it, the historic moments Thursday night when those two commissioners took the oaths of office were four years in the making.
That’s because in November 2014, Fruitland Park residents overwhelmingly approved an amendment to divide the city into five districts. The idea was a recommendation of a Charter Review Committee that was put together following the July 2013 announcement that The Villages planned to build 2,038 new homes and double the size of the community by bringing in about 4,000 new residents – something that would change the face of the city forever.
That November 2014 vote by the residents of the community will go down as one of the most significant events in the history of Fruitland Park. It set the course for Villages residents in the city to have representation. And it effectively limited commissioners Rick Ranize and Ray Lewis to one term each unless they decided to run for the seats in the districts they actually live in.
Perhaps most importantly, that 2014 election set the stage for DeGrave and Mobilian to put their names in the history books as the first commissioners to represent their fellow Villagers on the governing body of five that oversees the business of Fruitland Park. And judging by the outcome of the most recent commission meeting, we think it’s safe to say that Villagers can be rest assured they are top of mind now.
DeGrave, who moved to The Villages in June 2017, quickly showed that his 39 years of government experience will pay off as he plays a vital role in moving the city forward. The former police sergeant, who also spent 22½ years in six local governments in Wisconsin and Illinois, quickly demonstrated that he knew what he was talking about in the way he asked questions about everything from the cost of furniture for the new library – he sought out specs and clear, color photos or the chance to actually see the items in person – to his desires to spend time with Interim Police Chief Erik Luce and learn more about his department before signing off on a new $21,000 detective vehicle.
Mobilian, an Air Force veteran and retired Federal Express pilot, stayed true to his campaign and was particularly picky when asking questions about the new library furniture. Mobilian and his wife, Mary Ann, who served as his campaign manager, played a big role in getting a large turnout of Fruitland Park Villagers at two recent commission meetings, where a litany of questions were raised about spending on the new library.
At Thursday’s meeting, Mobilian, who moved to The Villages from Ponte Vedra Beach in February 2017, stuck to his guns concerning the library and joined with other commissioners who expressed desires to learn more about the particulars of the furniture that will be in the 12,000-square-foot building before they spend a large chunk of money.
Mobilian also made a classy move when he asked his wife to pose with him in the photo with City Clerk Esther Lewin-Coulson that was taken after he was sworn in. Mary Ann also held the Bible for her husband as he took the oath of office and seeing him include her made that a truly special moment among many that night.
Finally, we’d be remiss if we also didn’t congratulate Mayor Chris Cheshire, who was elected to his third term at the helm of the commission. A longtime vocal advocate of transparency in government, Cheshire has made it known that he will continue to push for growth and commercial expansion while doing everything in his power to lower taxes for residents. He said he’s convinced there are “wonderful opportunities” ahead for Fruitland Park and “with the right kind of growth comes the prosperity we all dream about.”
Given Fruitland Park’s checkered past – costly lawsuits galore, accusations of corruption, a police officer with ties to the Ku Klux Klan – it’s particularly refreshing to see commissioners who want to move forward in a positive and productive way. No one can predict the future, but longtime followers of politics in Fruitland Park have to feel confident that this commission is moving in the right direction. And those who live in The Villages portion of the city have to be thrilled to have two leaders who have vowed to represent their best interests as they work alongside their three colleagues to continue moving the city forward.
