Gov. DeSantis appoints Kevin Karnes as Lee County Clerk of Court

Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Kevin Karnes as Lee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller, filling the seat of retired Clerk Linda Doggett.
Karnes is a 14-year veteran of the office and previously served as chief operating officer, overseeing approximately 300 employees in departments handling court services, finance and technology. He has implemented new services giving the public more convenient access to the courts while improving efficiencies for the judiciary and attorneys through video conferencing, online scheduling and online document certification.
“I am deeply honored to receive Gov. DeSantis’ appointment, and I appreciate the opportunity serve Lee County,” Karnes said. “With this appointment, your Clerk’s office will continue to operate effectively and efficiently with no interruption in services.”
Chief Judge McHugh had temporarily appointed former Clerk Charlie Green to the role while awaiting a decision from the governor. A special election will take place Aug. 23, 2022, to allow voters to elect the Clerk until the next general election in 2024.
Karnes started his career with the Lee Clerk’s office in 2007 as a part-time file clerk while seeking his degree at Florida Gulf Coast University. He worked his way up to evidence clerk, operations manager, chief of courts, and eventually, chief operating officer.
“We are already making progress on our plan to better serve the community,” Karnes said. “My goal is to continue our vision of being recognized as a premier model of exceptional government and provide outstanding customer service to our community.”
Karnes has been actively involved in the community for more than 10 years. He serves on the board of directors of the United Way and on the Florida Bar grievance committee for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. He recently chaired the Cape Coral Redistricting Commission, which proposed new district maps to the Cape Coral City Council following the 2020 census.
Karnes previously served as the president of the Southwest Florida Young Republicans from 2016 to 2020 and was on the Lee County Republican Executive Committee for nearly a decade. He has also served on the News-Press editorial board and as a guardian ad litem.
For more information about Clerk Karnes or the Clerk’s office, please visit leeclerk.org.