Sonoma County is ushering in a new era for its election oversight with the appointment of Evelyn Mendez as its first standalone Registrar of Voters.
Mendez, a seasoned public servant with nearly 30 years of experience in election administration at both state and county levels, is set to be officially affirmed by the Board of Supervisors at their July 22nd meeting.
This historic move follows the creation of a dedicated Registrar of Voters Department on January 28th, separating it from the previously combined Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters office. Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors, emphasized that this change was made to eliminate the inherent conflict of interest in having an elected official oversee elections.
Mendez brings a wealth of expertise to Sonoma County, having most recently served as a division manager in Santa Clara County’s Registrar of Voters Department for six years. Prior to that, she spent two decades with the California Secretary of State Elections Division, rising to the position of program manager. Her extensive career includes overseeing more than 110 elections.
With her robust background, Mendez will be at the helm for the upcoming November 4th elections, which will see seven small districts holding elections, and will also oversee the crucial 2026 election cycle. Her starting salary will be $195,041.
