Gangemi wins unopposed in SNL election

By acclamation, Sun 'n Lake of Sebring resident Eugene "Gene" Gangemi won a landowner seat on the Improvement District's Board of Supervisors when no one ran against him Friday, in the landowners' election.

Some time on Thursday, Board President Bob Severino penned an e-mail to the residents of the district lauding the board's accomplishments over his 11 years on the board and thanking landowners for supporting him.

"I have been asked repeatedly if I was going to run for reelection, but as you must know by now, I have not made any effort to secure proxies for reelection," he wrote. "I am not seeking reelection and I will not accept a nomination at the landowners meeting for supervisor."

Gangemi, 65, was sworn in Friday by John McClure, the district's attorney, as soon as the board of supervisors reconvened, and took his seat.

"I'm happy the election turned out the way it did," said Gangemi, during a break. "I'm looking forward to serving all the needs of all the landowners, residents and businesses in Sun 'n Lake."

He showered praise on his campaign workers who went out on weekends, weekdays, and tirelessly in spite of some cold and rainy conditions. They collected about 850 proxy votes.

Gangemi hopes his election will help bring harmony to the district.

Also taking his seat on the board was Dick Miller, who was appointed to assume the remaining term of George "Bud" Puffenberger, who resigned.

For the first time in years Severino was able to stand by the door and listen as the new board took over. He spent five or six years as the board's president.

"It was time to bring it to an end and let the new people step in," he said, when asked for a comment. "Hopefully, we'll get the people to work in harmony with the new board."

New board officers picked

Once seated, the board voted for new officers.

By a 3-2 vote supervisor Dave Halbig took the helm as the new board president. Board members Frank Guglielmi and Diana Johnson cast the dissenting votes.

Before Halbig was picked, Johnson, who was the board's vice president, was nominated by Guglielmi for board president, and she seconded her own nomination. But, by a 3-2 vote she did not have the support she needed.

She, in turn, nominated Guglielmi for the board's vice president position. This was seconded by Halbig.

Gangemi nominated Miller for vice president.

After conferring with McClure, Halbig seconded Miller's nomination as well. By a 3-2 vote Guglielmi's nomination was voted down, with Miller, Halbig and Gangemi voting no.

By a 3-2 vote Miller is now the new vice president. Guglielmi and Johnson cast the dissenting vote.

Finance Director Dana March was unanimously selected as board treasurer.

The board voted unanimously for a new board secretary and selected Sarah Tackett, who works as an administrative assistant at Town Hall.

Former Board Secretary Ann Mitchell goes back to being an administrative assistant but will serve as an assistant secretary if needed.

Supervisor Johnson said she felt having Mitchell's experience to draw on would be a good transitional aid for Tackett as she takes on her new role.