[1] He was a member of the People's Alliance Party[2] and represented Central Kwara'ae Constituency in the National Parliament for thirteen years from 1997 to 2010, when he was defeated for re-election by MP Jackson Fiulaua.

[1] He was a candidate for the position of Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament later that year, but withdrew his candidacy on 1 December 2000, leaving Jackson Sunaone to win the post without opposition.

[11] In December 2011, Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo mentioned Fono as a possible High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, but he never took up the post.

[3] Fred Fono died at National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara at approximately 11 p.m. on 26 December 2011, at the age of 49.

[3] Fono was survived by his wife, Abby, his two daughters, Joy and Rachel, and his son Fred Junior.