Carolyn Timmann, Rick Scott's Former Open Government Chief, Wins Election in Martin County

Carolyn Timmann, who resigned her postion as director of open government in the executive office of Gov. Rick Scott effective Jan. 1, 2012, defeated two opponents to win election as Martin County clerk of the circuit court.

Explaining why she would leave a high-profile, $90,000-a-year job in the Capitol, she told Sunshine State News in a November 2011 interview, "I want to run for circuit court clerk back home. It's the job I've always wanted and it seems to me all of my training has been leading me to that seat."

On Tuesday she took 46.04 percent of the vote, to her closest opponent's 27.82 percent.

Timmann, 52, had worked in the state Capitol since 1992, serving as chief legislative assistant to Tom Warner in the House of Representatives (1992-1999); special assistant to Warner as solicitor general under Attorney General Charlie Crist (1999-2006); coordinator of the activities of 150 citizens and officials in the transition office of Gov.-elect Charlie Crist (2006); and serving in the executive office of Crist under the weighty title of executive deputy chief of staff over military affairs, veterans affairs, commission on disabilities, Volunteer Florida and public-private partnerships (2007-2010).

Timmann told the News as she resigned, "I don't consider myself leaving the governor's office so much as I'm trying to win a job that doesn't come open very often."