Award presented on June 19
Karen E. Rushing, Sarasota clerk of the Circuit Court and county comptroller, has been named the 2024 Statesman of the Year by the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers Association (FCCC), her staff has announced.
FCCC President and Suwanee County Clerk Barry Baker presented the award to Rushing on June 19, a news release says. The award is bestowed on the clerk and comptroller “who exemplifies and best represents Florida Clerks and Comptrollers among state leaders, regional and local constituents, and agency partners,” the release points out.
During the award ceremony, Baker highlighted the specific contributions that led to Rushing’s recognition, the release adds.
“As a leader,” he said, “you have people you rely on because of their wisdom, experience and historical knowledge. Karen E. Rushing is one such leader. Her deep understanding of Clerks’ business, demonstrated through her service on auxiliary boards to represent all Florida Clerks, is unparalleled.”
Baker also pointed out, “Her roles as the chair of the Florida Courts E-Filing Authority Board, chair of the Strategic Technology Committee, and Clerks representative on the Florida Courts Technology Commission underscore her integral role as a liaison between the clerk and courts. Her resilience in keeping important issues in the forefront of those we serve is commendable,” he added, as noted in the release.
The 2024 Statesman of the Year award is the most recent recognition that Rushing has received from the FCCC, the release says. “She also received a Special Recognition award in 2011 and an Excellence in Leadership award in 2010,” it continues. Further, Rushing “was the FCCC’s Clerk of the Year in 2005, 2009, 2012, and 2013, the release points out.
Rushing serves in a multitude of roles for Sarasota County, the release continues. She also is the county recorder, the county treasurer, county auditor, and the ex-officio clerk to the Board of County Commissioners. Moreover, the release notes, the Office of the Inspector General is part of her department. In these capacities, the release says, she fulfills more than 1,000 functions, “demonstrating her unwavering commitment to serving the citizens of Sarasota County.”
“Clerk Rushing is the longest serving Clerk and Comptroller in the state of Florida, and continues to fulfill the duties of the role in support of our citizens and community,” the news release further points out.
“To gain a deeper understanding of the comprehensive role of the Clerk and Comptroller,” the release encourages readers to visit www.SarasotaClerk.com.