Distinguished citizen award honor Lt. Gov. Kottkamp

COURTESY PHOTO Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp A limited number of tickets are still available for the 2008 Distinguished Citizen of the Year dinner honoring Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp on Monday, Nov. 24, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. The award is being presented by the Southwest Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America.

The Distinguished Citizen Award, presented each year in Southwest Florida since 1991, recognizes individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the community, state or nation. Former honorees include George Sanders, Jim Newton, Jody Hendry, Miles Schofield, Leo Wotitzky, T. Wayne Miller, Dr. Abbott Kagan, Chet Perry, Congressman Connie Mack, Congressman Porter Goss, Dr. David Brown III, David Lucas, Gary Trippe, Steve Shimp, Dr. W. Bernard Lester, Lou and Steve Pontius, Rusty Whitley, Dr. Kenneth Walker and Dudley Goodlette.

"Throughout his career, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp has epitomized the extraordinary integrity, character and civicmindedness that this award is intended to recognize," said Mary Jo Walker, chairwoman of the Distinguished Citizen Committee for the Southwest Florida Council. "What a terrific role model he is for today's scouts."

Mr. Kottkamp was elected on Nov. 7, 2006, as Florida's 17th lieutenant governor. As lieutenant governor, Mr. Kottkamp serves as chairman of the Board of Space Florida, chairman of the newly created Florida Children's Cabinet, and oversees the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, Governor's Office of Adoption and Child Protection, Florida's Film and Entertainment Industry and the Office of Drug Control. He also chairs the Davis Productivity Awards Program.

Tickets and corporate sponsorships are still available; call Paul Penttila at 936-8072 for more information.