Karen Rushing, Sarasota County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller, is the first woman elected to serve Sarasota County in this role, and she is the longest-serving Clerk and Comptroller in the State of Florida. Additionally, Clerk Rushing is a four-time recipient of the Clerk and Comptroller of the Year Award for her contributions to and collaboration with the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers Association (FCCC). Her current term in office runs from 2025 to 2029.

A constitutional officer of the State of Florida, Clerk Rushing strategically fulfills numerous roles and duties of the Office of Clerk and Comptroller, as mandated by Florida Statutes and the Florida Constitution. In addition to fulfilling obligations as the Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, she serves the citizens of Sarasota as County Recorder, Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller, County Auditor and Inspector General, and Ex-Officio Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners. In fulfilling these roles, the Clerk brings an innovative approach to leadership, problem-solving, and a focus on results. She has built a team of committed professionals who are as passionate as she is about serving Sarasota with integrity and trust.

A dedicated public servant, Clerk Rushing has held various appointments and has received numerous honors and accolades throughout her career:  In 2024, she received the Florida State Woman of the Year Award. In 2010, she was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve on the commission that addresses statewide standardization of court-related technology, which she continues to be involved with today. Additionally, Clerk Rushing is a past-President of the FCCC Association; she also served as Chair of the Strategic Planning Task Force and the Legislative Task Force. In 2002, her alma mater, the University of South Florida, honored her with the Distinguished Alumni Award for her community service work. 

In addition to Clerk Rushing’s professional record of service, she is deeply committed to the Sarasota community and to good works across the globe. Activities have included 

• serving on the Board of Directors of the United Way Suncoast and as Chair of various committees, including those allocating financial resources to the community. 
• leading community focus group for Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence (SCOPE), an organization focused on inspiring citizens to create a better community
• working with organizations that target healthy development for children.
• Serving as an advisor to the United States Department of Commerce in developing the democracy of Angola, Africa, shortly following the assassination of the country's rebel leader in 2002. The assignment, a four-year judicial reform project, helped unite the war-torn country and establish an alliance with Portugal.

Clerk Rushing holds a BA in Social and Behavioral Science from the University of South Florida (USF), and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Nova University. In addition, Rushing completed postgraduate work at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.