Clerk Spotlight: Kevin Karnes
Monday, May 1, 2023
About Kevin Karnes
Kevin Karnes knew he wanted to be Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller for Lee County when Charlie Green was still in office around 2010. When he consulted Green about this goal, Green encouraged him to pursue the position later in life. Thus, Karnes decided he would go to law school.
But the self-proclaimed “horrible test-taker” nixed that plan after he wasn’t accepted, instead dedicating his focus to working for the Clerk's Office and getting a master’s degree in legal studies. Eventually, he was promoted to Chief of Courts, then Chief Operating Officer under Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Linda Doggett.
Once Doggett retired, Karnes took the opportunity to go for what he’d always wanted. He jumped into campaign mode and won the appointment to Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller by the Governor's Office and then formal election in August of 2022.
As Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, Karnes tells everyone he represents citizens through two different lenses. The first is through helping them through major moments: getting married, transferring property, navigating a court matter, or serving jury duty. The second lens is helping the community understand his role as Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller.
Lee County is committed to many initiatives to better its local community. Karnes’ office frequently participates in an outreach event for the homeless and veterans, connecting with these populations to help with facilitating the payment of outstanding fines and fees. They also hold annual events to benefit the United Way and a Clerk-sponsored, In-Service Day event held each September.
Further, the Lee Clerk’s Office has made several enhancements to improve convenience for records since Clerk Karnes was elected. One excellent example is the new ability for citizens to attain marriage licenses over Zoom. Customers can make appointments to see an Official Records Clerk remotely, and by the end of their session, have a finalized certificate to proceed with their ceremonies. Moving forward, Clerk Karnes’ office is prioritizing the expansion of online services, the prevention of property fraud, and the improvement of cybersecurity awareness and readiness.
All this great work is made possible because of his dedicated team of professionals, and Clerk Karnes is proud of his office's ability to attract and retain his talented workforce. The attrition rate sits at 11 percent, and he currently only has four open positions throughout the entire office.
When he’s not working (which isn’t often), Karnes enjoys following politics, "playing" golf, reading, volunteering, and spending time with his dog, Rosco. His ideal night is spent with a good gin and tonic, a bonfire, and some country music.
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