Lee County, Florida District 3
Commissioner Ray Judah
Guest Opinions
Phone: (239) 533-2223
FAX: (239) 485-2021
Mailing Address:
Box 398, Ft. Myers, Florida 33902-0398
Office Location:
Old Lee County Courthouse
2120 Main Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Email: dist3@leegov.com
Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from County Employees and officials regarding County business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your email communication may be subject to public disclosure. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
Molly Schweers, Executive Assistant
PERSONAL/EDUCATIONAL
* Born in 1953, Cebu Islands, Philippines
* Proudly and happily married to Kristen Leigh Judah, Resident Services Coordinator at Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida
* Devoted father of Lt. Kallen Lee Judah, U.S. Air Force
* Master of Science in Natural Resources and Bachelor of Arts in Zoology
* Graduated Cum Laude from California State University, Humboldt
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
* Lee County Commissioner Since 1988
* Principal Land Use Planner
* Lee County Department of Community Development
* Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of Interior Kern County, California
* Marine Biologist
* Environmental Quality Laboratory, GDC Charlotte County
* Environmental Specialist
* Florida Department of Environmental Regulation Charlotte & Lee Counties
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
* Chairman of the Lee County Commission, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2008, 2009
* Member, Metropolitan Planning Organization
* Member, Horizon Council
* Co-founder, CREW - Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed
* Chairman of the Lee County Tourist Development Council, 1998, 2004, 2008
* Member, Lee County Chapter of the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Council
* Past Chairman, Local Coordinating Board/Transportation Disadvantaged
* Chairman of the West Coast Inland Navigation District
* Lee County Delegate to the Governor's Conference on Information Services and Library Systems
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
* Spearheaded beach restoration of Fort Myers Beach
* Championed the acquisition of critical water resource areas in the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed
* Led the successful effort to put the Conservation 20/20 initiative on the referendum in 1996 to purchase environmentally sensitive land
* Championed the construction of numerous community and regional parks and libraries
* Took the lead to construct state-of-art Waste to Energy Plant (Honored as the "Best Project in the World" by Power Engineering International in 1995)
* Awarded "Conservationist of the Year" from the Florida Audubon Society in 1984 & 1996
* Won 1992 "Environmental Public Service Award" from Keep Lee County Beautiful
* Strong advocate of major infrastructure projects such as the expansion of Southwest Florida International Airport, regional water and sewer facilities, and road transportation network, which support economic development in Lee County
* Continues to take the lead in balancing growth management and responsible stewardship of our natural resources
* Awarded the 2001 Community Coordinating Council "Most Outstanding Public Official"
* Recipient of the "Friend of Fort Myers Beach Award" from the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce in 2002
* Received the 2003 Estero Chamber of Commerce "Person of the Year Award"
* Named as a "Champion of the Environment" by Gulfshore Life Magazine in 2003
* Recipient of the "Pathfinder Award" for vision and leadership by the Urban Land Institute in 2003
* Recipient of the Southwest Florida Library Network "2007 Library Champion Award"
* Recipient of the Florida Wildlife Federation "2007 Conservationist of the Year Award"
* Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pelican Landing Residential Association, Inc.
* COTI Committee of the Islands 2008 Citizen of the Year Award
* Recipient of the 2009 Estero Chamber of Commerce Political Person of the Year Award
* BikeWalk Lee’s 2010 Champion of the Year
* 2011 recipient of the Everglades Coalition James D. Webb Award which annually recognizes a public servant who has made an outstanding contribution to the Everglades
* Recognized in January, 2011 by Gulf Coast Business Review as one of their “50 Most Powerful People on the Florida Gulf Coast”
* Awarded the 2011 Legislative Award by the Florida Council of the Blind in recognition of his contributions to the Blind Population of Florida
MEMBERSHIPS
* Kiwanis Club of Downtown Fort Myers
* Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
* Lee County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
* National Association of Underwater Instructors
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
* Judge of the Edison Regional Science Fair
* Coastal Clean Up
* Community Redevelopment Clean Up & Beautification Projects