Candidate for
Council Member; Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council

Getting to Know Tony Fote`

Born and raised in Miami Florida, turning down nine full baseball scholarships to Colleges and Universities throughout the Southeast, graduated Magna cum Laude from Boston College with a BA degree and double major in Political Science and Speech Communications.

Accepted to UCLA's film school, came to California in 1979 and received a Master's degree in film in 1981. Having worked in TV news from the age of 19, took a job in the KTLA newsroom in December of 1981.

Won first Golden Mike award after three months on the job as an editor. Distinguished career at KTLA including supervisory work in editing as well as producing and editing many features and pilot projects for the News and Production departments over the years.

Coming to the Conejo valley first in late 1982 quite by chance (a car breakdown near the Westlake Boulevard exit on the 101 on the way back from a trip to Santa Barbara) was a revelation. Discovering Oak Park with a colleague while looking into a news story about the use of drought tolerant landscaping in the brand new Bent Tree development in the mid 1980s created a pledge to live in the area some day.

That day came in 1990 after finally closing escrow as one of the first homeowners in the Montego development, after waiting in line for nearly two years on homes in other developments.

Wed in 1991 to Sports Producer Elaina, first child Marina arrives in 1992. Both parents work and this means Tony has to care for Marina until early afternoon as he works the night shift at the time. To while the time away Marina and her father go for hours on hikes using a backpack baby carrier and together they watch the build out of Oak Park take place before their eyes. Son Tony Jr. comes along in 1995 after dad made his move helping to launch the KTLA Morning News. The family watches as what once was scrub and sand becomes the bustling village we enjoy today.

Over the years watching the build out of Montego and the addition of so many families to the development and then to the area in general spurs interest in working toward adding speed humps to the immediate neighborhood to calm some of the dangerous traffic speeds along the County owned streets. Because of this activity, a relationship with the Oak Park MAC and subsequent running for President of the Montego HOA Board develops.

The journey continues as I look forward to contiuing to work to improve the already delightful living conditions we enjoy in Oak Park.

If you see me in the neighborhood and have any questions, there are few things I like more than exchanging ideas with my fellow citizens. Let's talk things over. I look forward to serving you on the MAC!