FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Booch DeMarchi, Lee County Public Resources
               (239) 335-2481

STEVE PERSONETTE IS SELECTED LEE COUNTY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 17, 2004) - The Lee County Board of County Commissioners has selected Steve Personette from Cape Coral as the winner of the Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year award for 2003.

The Board made the announcement at its meeting today.

Personette was honored for his tireless efforts in working with the Florida Economic Development Council, Lee County Public Schools, Lee County Alliance of the Arts, Keep Lee County Beautiful, Hospice of Lee County, United Way of Lee County and Lee County Human Service Council. He becomes the 16th recipient of this annual award.

Personette is the local public affairs manager for Sprint-Florida.

Three runners up were also acknowledged at the Board meeting. They are: Gina Sabiston (Fort Myers ), Al O'Donnell (Estero) and Margaret Harmon (St James City).

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.

Past winners are: Hannah Davis (1991), Israel Suarez (92), Ed and Sylvia Blue (93), P. Michael Villalobos (94), Bill Davis and Duera Mae Everett (95), Judy Jenkins (96), Dr. Lee Duffus (97), Roberta Morgan (98), Jim and Ellie Newton (99), Dodie Booher (2000), Fran Myers (2001) and Sam Galloway Jr. (2002).