FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
               (239) 335-2777

COUNTY COMMISSION ELECTS ALBION AS 2004 CHAIRMAN

FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 18, 2003) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today voted unanimously to designate Commissioner John Albion as its chairman for the coming year. Commissioner Doug St. Cerny was designated as vice chairman. Albion replaces Commissioner Ray Judah.

On the third Tuesday of each November the Board elects a new chairman. The chairman runs the weekly commission meetings, appoints other commissioners to serve as liaisons to other boards and organizations, and signs documents on behalf of the entire Board of County Commissioners, such as resolutions and financial documents.

The vice chairman typically becomes the chairman the next year, and the chairmanship rotates among the five board members.

Commissioner Albion has served as the District 5 Commissioner since being first elected in 1992. District 5 covers east Lee County, Lehigh Acres, Gateway, San Carlos Park and the area east of U.S. 41 between Daniels Parkway and Corkscrew Road.