Karen E. Rushing has been Sarasota County’s elected Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller since 1987. She has many years of court financial management experience, with financial responsibilities that include accounting for a budget of roughly a billion dollars. She is committed to providing citizens with the highest quality customer service, transparency, and effective cost-control measures. She has been honored with numerous awards for excellence in financial management.

Ms. Rushing received a BA in Social and Behavioral Science, and a Master’s Degree in Business. In addition, she completed postgraduate work at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, at Harvard University. 

Four separate times, Ms. Rushing received the Clerk and Comptroller of the Year Award for her contributions to, and collaboration with, the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers Association. In 2024, she received the State’s Woman of the Year award. She has served on numerous leadership committees for many years, including as the association President and Chair of the Strategic Planning and Legislative task forces. Ms. Rushing is the past Chair of the Statewide Strategic Technology Committee for the Florida Court Clerk and Comptrollers Association. 

Ms. Rushing served 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 judicial reform project lasting four years, linked the war-torn country together and formed an alliance with the country of Portugal.

First appointed by the Florida Supreme Court in 2010, she continues to serve on the commission that addresses statewide standardization of court-related technology.

Ms. Rushing also serves the community through active volunteering. Activities included serving on the Board of Directors of the United Way Suncoast and as a Chair of various committees, including those allocating financial resources to the community. She has led a community focus group for Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence (SCOPE), an organization focused on inspiring citizens to create a better community, and works with organizations that target healthy development for children.