Fort Walton Beach city clerk Kim Barnes named Florida’s 2026 Clerk of the Year

Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Fort Walton Beach City Clerk Kim Barnes has earned one of the top honors in her field, bringing statewide recognition back to the city where she has worked for nearly two decades.

Barnes, who holds the Master Municipal Clerk designation, was recently selected by the Florida Association of City Clerks as the 2026 Clerk of the Year for Florida. The award is given to an FACC member whose work has helped raise the professional standing, public image or educational strength of the municipal clerk profession during the previous year.

For Fort Walton Beach, the honor carries special weight. Florida has more than 400 municipalities, each with its own city clerk, making the recognition a standout achievement among peers across the state. City officials said they were proud to see Barnes receive the award and thanked her for her continued service to the community.

Barnes’ path with the city began in 2007. After years of service in municipal government, she became Fort Walton Beach City Clerk in January 2015. Since then, her role has placed her at the center of important city operations, from public records and official proceedings to the careful work that keeps local government organized and accessible.

Her professional growth continued in 2019, when she earned the Master Municipal Clerk, or MMC, designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. The credential is awarded only to clerks who complete demanding education requirements and show meaningful contributions to their local government, community and state.

The Clerk of the Year selection looks beyond job title alone. Candidates are judged on leadership in the profession and in the community, involvement in civic groups and community activities, use of innovation to improve their work or community, and participation in professional organizations such as the Florida Association of City Clerks.

In announcing the recognition, the City of Fort Walton Beach celebrated both the award and the steady work behind it.

“We congratulate Kim on this honor and thank her for her continued dedication to the City of Fort Walton Beach,” the city said.

For Barnes, the honor reflects years of service, continued professional development and a visible commitment to the clerk’s role in local government. For Fort Walton Beach, it is also a moment of civic pride: one of its own has been recognized among hundreds of municipal clerks across Florida.