Lee County Clerk and Comptroller Kevin Karnes has announced the creation of a new type of role at the Clerk’s office aimed at saving taxpayer dollars. The new Chief of Government Efficiency (also known as CoGE) will focus on identifying cost-saving measures and providing strategic recommendations to help reduce the office’s budget, streamline operations, and promote a culture of excellence.

The position will look at budgets and expenses with a different lens from internal auditors, who traditionally focus on different priorities. The Chief of Government Efficiency will determine if purchases are mission critical to the Clerk’s Office and make recommendations to the Clerk on whether the expense was a good use of taxpayer dollars.

The role will also be responsible for regular research projects that are centered around the Clerk’s cost-saving initiatives and overall performance.

“Creating this new role is the right thing to do for the taxpayer,” Karnes said. “As Lee County’s Clerk and Comptroller, I understand the importance of being a good steward of taxpayer money. I hear the sensitivity surrounding government budgets and am committed to doing something about it.”

John Bodner, the Clerk’s Chief Administrative Officer, has been tapped to serve in the CoGE position effective Feb. 3. Bodner joined the agency in 2023 and previously served as the assistant county administrator in Lancaster County, SC. He has also worked at the Lee County Tax Collector as the Chief Financial Officer. The Clerk’s Chief Administrative Officer position will be discontinued.

Bodner earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Eastern Kentucky University and his Master of Business Administration from Murray State University. He serves as a board member with Childcare of Southwest Florida and Estero Forever Foundation.