Feb 21, 2006
(Attached photo, left to right: Steve Maxwell, Nola Theiss, Helen Kralj, Paulette Burton's three daughters, Anne Dalton, far right. Back row: Board of Lee County Commissioners)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
(239) 335-2777
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER DALTON HONORED AS LEE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 21, 2006) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners has selected Anne Dalton from Fort Myers as the winner of the Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year award for 2005.
The Board made the announcement – the highest honor a local citizen can receive – at its meeting today.
Dalton, a Fort Myers attorney, was honored for her civic and community contributions and volunteerism, particularly in the areas of legal aid, human services, and advocacy for our children and elderly.
Among Dalton's contributions: chair of the Board of Directors, Shady Rest Care Pavilion; member of Board of Directors, Legal Aid Society; secretary, Lee County Human Services Council; a 15-year volunteer hearing officer for the county's Support Enforcement Program (child support cases being brought by the Department of Revenue); and member of the Lee County Charter Review Committee.
"The attribute I respect the most is that Anne, whether with a friend or with a civic group, is able to listen and help problem-solve while suspending all judgments and personal feelings," wrote FGCU's Joanne Hartke in one of the 13 nominations Dalton received.
Hartke continued: "She works long hours, not because she is a workaholic, but because she believes in a job well-done, whether it is a paid or volunteer task that needs to be completed. I cannot think of anyone who has worked harder or smarter for the good of our community…"
"One of Anne Dalton's finest achievements is the successful purchase of Shady Rest Care Pavilion from Lee County," wrote Weston Edwards, another nominator. "Lee County citizens benefited by the continuance of a locally owned and operated, not-for-profit skilled nursing facility focused on meeting the needs of Lee County residents. Furthermore, another benefit of this transaction is the elimination of financial support from Lee County government, thereby reducing the tax burden on Lee County citizens."
Three runners up were also acknowledged at the Board meeting. They are: Helen Kralj (Bonita Springs, for her volunteerism with the Lee County Sheriff's V.O.I.C.E. program, Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Effort), Steve Maxwell (Sanibel, for his community advocacy and public involvement in such organizations as the Industrial Development Authority and Smart Growth Committee), and Nola Theiss (Sanibel, for her work in establishing the Coalition Against Human Trafficking in Southwest Florida).
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), Sam Galloway Jr. (2002), Steve Personette (2003), and David Graham (2004).