FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Donald D. Stilwell, County Administration (941) 335-2221
ASST. LEE MANAGER BRUCE LOUCKS TAKES HELM OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 10, 2002) – Lee County Administration announced today that Assistant County Manager Bruce Loucks will be leaving to become the new Charlotte County Administrator.
The Board of Charlotte County Commissioners unanimously approved Loucks’ contract today and his first day in the new position will be Dec. 23.
“It’s always gratifying to see good things happen to good people,” said Lee County Manager Donald D. Stilwell. “Becoming a county manager has been Bruce’s long-term career goal and, while we’re going to miss him, this is a wonderful opportunity for him.”

Loucks is the second Lee County Assistant Manager to now head another Florida county. In 1997, then-Assistant County Manager Roger Desjarlais was chosen to be Broward County’s Administrator, a position he still holds today.

Loucks is an 18-year employee of Lee County Government and has held the position of Assistant County Manager since April 1998. Prior to that he was Budget Director for six years. He started with the county as a Budget Analyst and Management Analyst. Loucks also worked in the Alachua County Budget Office before joining Lee County’s team.

In his current duties as Assistant County Manager, Loucks directly oversaw seven departments and divisions – Budget Services, Human Services, Parks & Recreation, County Lands, Public Safety, Veterans Services and Transit.

Loucks is a native of Michigan and has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from the University of Florida. He lives in Cape Coral with his wife, Mary, and daughter, Erin. His son, Justin, attends Florida State University.

The assistant county manager position will be advertised and a replacement will be selected through a competitive process.

Lee County Government has 2,200 employees, operates 25 departments and divisions, and spends more than $700 million annually on a full complement of projects, programs and services, including Parks & Recreation, Libraries, Roads, Public Safety, Public Transit, Animal Control, Utilities, Community Development, Human Services, Natural Resources Management, Economic Development and the Visitor & Convention Bureau.