FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Booch DeMarchi, Project Manager, at 335-2481

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners has selected Dodie Booher from North Ft. Myers as the winner of the Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year award for 2000. The Board made the announcement at its Tuesday, February 20, 2001 meeting. Booher was honored for her tireless efforts in working with numerous Lee County government programs. She has been active in the Horizon Council, Economic Development Council, Metropolitan Planning Organization and numerous Commissioner Advisory Committees. She has also been a community leader with her involvement in Golden Apple Awards Committee, Children's Hospital, and American Cancer Society. She becomes the 13th recipient of this annual award.

Five runners up were also acknowledged at the Board meeting. They included: Charles Foster ( Alva ), Michael Miller ( Cape Coral ), Joanne Semmer-James ( Ft Myers Beach ), Jake Slot ( Ft Myers ) and Meg Venceller ( Estero.)

The Citizen of the Year Award was created in 1991 to honor Mrs. Burton, a long time Sanibel resident and government watchdog. She spent many years serving as a voice of the people to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners as well as playing an active role in Sanibel politics. She died in a 1991 car accident.