FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Donald D. Stilwell, Lee County Administration, (239) 335-2221

SCHWARTZ SELECTED AS LEE'S NEW ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER/
WINTON NAMED ASSISTANT TO THE COUNTY MANAGER

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 15, 2003) - Lee County Administration announced today that Holly A. Schwartz - a 10-year employee - has been selected as the county's new Assistant County Manager. Schwartz fills the vacancy created when Bruce Loucks left in December to become Charlotte County Administrator.

Schwartz has been with the county since 1993 and, as Assistant to the County Manager, has been a member of the county's senior management team since 1994. As Assistant to the County Manager, Schwartz oversaw the divisions of purchasing, public resources, animal services and the equal opportunity office. She also has been the county's liaison to its legislative lobbyist.

Schwartz was one of four finalists interviewed today for the position by a screening panel made up of Frank D'Alessandro, principal with D'Alessandro & Woodyard RE/MAX Commercial Realty Group, Dick Ackert, president of SouthTrust Bank, Jim Lavender, Public Works Director, and George Williams, Human Resources Director.

The other finalists were: Kelvin E. Knauf - a former city manager of the Texas cities of Corinth, Lago Vista and Spearman; John F. Erar - city administrator of Andover, Minnesota; and Kathy S. Rice - former city manager of Waco, Texas and deputy city manager of Clearwater, Florida.

The screening panel forwarded Schwartz and Rice for final personal interviews with County Manager Don Stilwell and Deputy County Manager Bill Hammond, who made the final selection. More than 140 people applied for the position.

The Assistant County Manager, along with the Deputy County Manager and Assistant to the County Manager, oversees a number of the county's 25 departments and divisions and is a key member of the county's senior management team.

Schwartz has a master's in public administration and bachelor's in political communications, both from Florida State University. Prior to her joining the county she was a legislative assistant with a Tallahassee lobbying firm.

Pete Winton - the county's Communications Director and an eight-year county employee - has been named Assistant to the County Manager. Winton will perform the duties of Assistant to the County Manager and Communications Director, which will result in a cost savings by eliminating a position. Winton has a master's degree in journalism and bachelor's degree in accounting, both from Indiana University. He started with the county in 1995 as research director in the Economic Development Office and became Communications Director in 1999. Prior to that, he was a newspaper reporter for six years and a senior accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co. for five years.