Fruitland Park Commissioner Ray Lewis was listed in stable condition at Leesburg Regional Medical Center one day after suffering a heart attack.
Lewis, an insurance executive, was transported to the hospital Thursday and was absent from the commission’s meeting later that night, which was held at the Community Methodist Church to accommodate a large crowd of Villages residents who had come for the second week in a row armed with questions about everything from the city’s new library to its 2019 budget. Lewis also had been absent the week prior because he had plans to be out of town before a special meeting was called at the church.
Lewis, who has lived in Fruitland Park for more than 30 years, was elected to the commission in November 2014 at the same time voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to divide the city into five districts.
Since Lewis doesn’t live in the district he represents, he wasn’t eligible to run for re-election, and his seat is being contested in the Nov. 6 general election by Villagers John Mobilian and Fred Collins.
Prior to serving on the commission, Lewis was one of five members appointed by then-Mayor Chris Bell to the city’s Charter Review Committee. That group, which was chaired by longtime city resident and Villages executive George “Mackie” McCabe, was charged with reviewing the city’s charter and recommending appropriate amendments to city commissioners.
One of those recommendations was that the city move from at-large to district representation, which ultimately made Lewis, a Leesburg native and descendant of one of the area’s pioneer families, a one-term commissioner in District 2.
Mayor Chris Cheshire said he and everyone at the city wishes Lewis a speedy recovery. He said he missed having him at the last two commission meetings, as he is very good at explaining exactly how the city works to residents who have questions.
“Ray is an extremely dedicated servant to the city and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family right now,” Cheshire said. “The most important thing is for him to fully recover and move forward with great health.”