Sonoma County supervisors appoint Evelyn Mendez as 1st stand-alone registrar of voters

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors appointed Evelyn Mendez as the first stand-alone registrar of voters, separating the role from the clerk-recorder-assessor position to prevent conflicts of interest during elections. Mendez, who has served as a division manager in the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters’ Office for six years, will oversee elections, maintain voter rolls, and lead voting education campaigns. Board chair Lynda Hopkins emphasized the importance of this change, citing the need to address the increased workload due to new election laws. Mendez has participated in over 110 elections at various government levels, equipping her for her new responsibilities. She will begin by managing a fall election involving seven local special districts before preparing for the 2026 midterms, which include a June primary and a November general election.

The Board of Supervisors will confirm her appointment at a meeting on Tuesday, with a starting salary of $195,041. Mendez's experience positions her well to uphold the integrity of the election system in Sonoma County. This change reflects a broader trend of increasing professionalism in election administration.