Germaine Is New Clerk Of Courts

Bob Germaine has fulfilled his goal in life: rising to the top.

"I started working here when I was 21 years old," said Germaine, 57, who is currently one of two top directors under incumbent Clerk of Courts Luke Brooker.

Germaine won the Highlands County clerk of courts race on Tuesday by a 58 to 41 percent margin.

His opponent, Democrat Mary Wilson, couldn't be reached on election night for her comments.

"This was easier for me," said Germaine, "because I had so many supporters out there. People know me, and they've been working for me for a year. I've got hundreds of people helping me."

But the race put a strain on his family and his supporters, because he felt the necessity of winning.

"It hits me deep down, in there's so many people who were willing to donate their time," Germaine said. "And people just volunteered. They came to me and said, 'Bob, what can we do?'"

"I said to my wife last night, we did everything we could possibly do," Germaine. "We knocked on doors; I hit every homeowner's association that would let me in the door. I made hundreds of phone calls, but no blind calls. And I went to all the businesses. And I tried to stay aboveboard. I didn't want to get negative."

What did he learn?

"I enjoyed meeting people and speaking with people," Germaine said. "Luke Brooker told me, 'You don't have to talk about your opponent, just talk about the office.'"

Which was Germaine's job for the last 36 years, 16 with Brooker, and 20 years under Earl Rich.

What the people learned from listening to Germaine and Wilson speak, he said, was what the clerk of courts' office does.

"They didn't really have a clue," Germaine said. "We do all the county's accounting, the payroll, the (information technology) department, and all official records."

On Wednesday morning, Germaine will fulfill the first of his campaign promises.

"I'm going to go out and pick up all my signs," Germaine said. "I'm going to have all those signs picked up and put away. And I'm going to try to be back in the office on Thursday."