Meet the Clerk & Comptroller

Gary J. Cooney

Gary is a multi-generational native Floridian, originally from Lynn Haven, and a resident of Mount Dora since 1984.

Gary is married to Carla Pepperman, a Lake County judge, with whom he has three children, Tyler, a Marine Corps Major and paramedic, Jourdan, a medical doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology and who is the mother of his two grandsons, and Madison, a Florida lawyer who is the mother of his three granddaughters.

Gary has been a practicing attorney since 1986, having earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida. He also holds a degree in accounting, having earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stetson University.

Before becoming Clerk in 2018, Gary was the Chief Deputy Clerk in Lake County for seven years. Prior to that, Gary spent the majority of his career as a municipal attorney.

Duties of the Clerk & Comptroller:

History Slide 1

Clerk to the Board of
County Commissioners

As Clerk to the Board, we serve as the keeper of minutes, and serve as Clerk to the Value Adjustment Board, and perform tax deed sales.

History Slide 2

County Auditor

The Clerk serves as the Internal Auditor and Inspector General. In this role, the Clerk conducts audits and investigates reports of fraud, waste, or abuse in county government operations.

History Slide 3

County Recorder

As County Recorder, the office oversees land records, such as deeds and mortgages, recorded into the official records. The office also records vital statistics records, such as marriage licenses, death certificates, judgments, and liens.

History Slide 4

County Funds Custodian

Duties as Comptroller include acting as the finance department for the Board of County Commissioners, certifying upwards of $400 million of Lake County expenditures, and serving as investment manager of funds.

History Slide 5

Clerk of the Circuit Court

The Clerk serves as record keeper for the trial court, and as Clerk to both Circuit and County Court since 1972. This includes management of jury and evidence, and processing injunctions for protection.

History Slide 6

Other Duties

The Clerk is responsible for over 2,000 tasks, some of which include making records available to the public, and processing marriage licenses and passports.