The Lee County Board of County Commissioners has selected Roxie Smith of Ft Myers Beach as the recipient of the Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year award for 2009. The Board made the announcement at its Tuesday, February 16, 2010 meeting. Smith was honored for her tireless efforts in the Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and its Foundation, Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency, Lee County Tourist Development Council, Lee County Coastal Advisory Committee and Florida Commission on Tourism Board of Directors.

She becomes the 22nd recipient to receive the annual award.

Three runners up were also acknowledged at the Board meeting. They included:

Samira Beckwith (Ft Myers,) Mary Miller (N Ft Myers) and George Szymanski (Lehigh Acres).

The Burton Citizen of the Year award was created in 1991 in honor of 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 automobile accident.

For additional information contact Booch DeMarchi, Burton Award manager, at 533-2105 demarcgw@leegov.com

Source: Booch DeMarchi

Special Events Coordinator, Public Resources

Lee County Government