Gov. DeSantis appoints Matt Terry to assume control of Gulf County Clerk’s Office

For the first time in 20 years, Gulf County will have a new Clerk of Court.

James “Matt” Terry is taking over as Gulf County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in the Panhandle county. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he has selected Terry to fill the vacant post.

Terry will be replacing Rebecca L. “Becky” Norris, who had a grip on that job since she was first elected in 2005. But late last year, Norris announced she would retire from the Clerk’s position, effective Dec. 31.

Tonya Knox served as interim Clerk for several weeks before DeSantis selected Terry as the permanent replacement.

But with Terry taking over the Clerk’s Office, that will create another government vacancy. Terry was a member of the Gulf County School Board. He held the District 3 seat and that term doesn’t expire until the 2028 elections.

DeSantis picked Terry to take over the Clerk and Comptroller position because he has the background required for that office. Terry is the owner of the Appraisal Group of North Florida. He’s also the President of the Appraisal Institute of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Terry earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Flagler College in St. Augustine.