Uncontested Kevin Karnes retains his Lee County Clerk of Court post

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Lee County Clerk of the Court & Comptroller Kevin Karnes will remain in his position after Friday’s filing deadline passed without anyone seeking to run against him.

Karnes was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to his post in March of 2022. At the time of his appointment, he had already been working for the clerk’s office for 15 years in various leadership roles. He replaced the previous clerk, Linda Doggett, when she retired.

Later that same year, Karnes ended up winning the primary against his opponent Liza King.

According to the Clerk of the Court’s website, Karnes holds a master’s degree in Legal Studies from American Public University and a bachelor’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. Karnes is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Clerk and Comptroller.

Part of Karnes’ role as clerk is to manage and invest nearly $2 billion dollars of the taxes Lee County collects every year.

The clerk’s office collects on average $50 million in tourist taxes annually, conducts audits and pays more than $1 billion in county bills, according the page.

In addition to his post as Clerk of the Court, Karnes serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades. He also previously served as a Guardian Ad Litem and currently serves as a member on a Florida Bar Grievance Committee.