Kevin Lewis named Citizen of the Year

COURTESY PHOTO Kevin Lewis receiving the Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year award from Lee Commissioners. The Lee County Board of County Commissioners selected Kevin Lewis, the Chief Executive Officer of the Southwest Florida Addiction Services, as the recipient of the Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year award for 2007. The Board made the announcement at its Tuesday, Feb. 19 meeting.

Lewis was honored for his tireless efforts in working with families, employers and the community by developing substance treatment programs for adults and adolescents. Specifically, he spearheaded the effort to fund a new Detoxification and Outpatient Treatment Center. He becomes the 20th recipient of this annual award.

Construction of the first new detoxification center to be built in Lee County in more than 50 years will begin Thurs., Feb. 28.

Lewis spearheaded the effort that raised about $6 million of the $9.5 million needed for the new center. Interim financing has been arranged to enable SWFAS to move forward with construction while fund-raising continues

Five runners up were also acknowledged at the Board meeting. They were: Ann Bruning (Captiva), John Bunch (St James City), Bruce Gora (Fort Myers), Lalai Hamric (Fort Myers) and Gregg Makepeace (North Fort Myers).

The Burton 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.