Mendoza Sworn in to Replace Adamcik
Fayette County Commissioners appointed Sylvia Mendoza to serve the unexpired term of the late Fayette County Tax Assessor-Collector Rosalinda Adamcik, who died in office unexpectedly on August 29.
Mendoza has worked in the Tax Assessor’s Office for the past five years. County Judge Joe Weber swore Mendoza into office on Friday morning, September 11.
“We’re here today because of a very unfortunate situation,” Weber said at the swearing-in ceremony inside the district courtroom. “We all recognize that. We lost Rosalinda, one of our own, one of our elected officials. She’s done a great job as our Tax Assessor.
“I didn’t know Rosalinda as well as some of you did,” Weber continued. “But I think she’d say, ‘Thank you for honoring me, but we all need to get back to work for the County.’ So we have to continue on.”
Adamcik was up for election this November, but she was running unopposed. Weber and the four commissioners spent about an hour deliberating on the appointment during a closed-door meeting of the Commissioners Court Thursday morning, Sept. 10.
“Our duty as a Commissioners Court is to find a person and appoint him or her to the unexpired term for Rosalinda, which will go until we canvas the votes in November,” Weber said. “At that time, we will have to look at appointing someone else or the same person. So there will be two appointments coming along.”
The second appointment will last until the general election in November 2022, in accordance with Texas election laws. At that time, voters will choose the next Tax Assessor-Collector.
Adamcik’s untimely death led to another complication – she died after the deadline to make changes to the election ballot. Her name will appear on the ballot this November. Weber described it as a fitting memorial for Adamcik.
“The Court decided that Sylvia Mendoza was the leader that we needed in the office at this period in time,” Weber said at the ceremony Friday. “Sylvia, I just want to say you have our confidence.”
The office primarily handles vehicle registrations and titles. Just about everyone in the County visits the office at least once a year to renew their vehicle registrations. Lines on busy days can sometimes stretch around the first floor hallway in the courthouse.
Another employee in the Tax Assessor’s office departed last week, leaving the office shorthanded by two people. Weber acknowledged the difficult start to Mendoza’s tenure.
“I know you’re working on some very difficult situations,” Weber said. “All the ladies in that office are trying to put it together. There’s not a doubt in my mind, I know the past of all of you, you have great experience and you’re going to figure this out.”
On hand for the ceremony were several other elected officials, including County Attorney Peggy Supak, Pct. 4 Commissioner Tom Muras and County Clerk Brenda Fietsam. Also in attendance were staff members from the Tax Assessor’s office and members of Mendoza’s family.
“I just want to say thank you to the Judge and Commissioners for having confidence in me to fill this unexpired term,” Mendoza said. “I want to thank each and every one of you here. That shows me a lot of support, a lot of confidence.”
Mendoza and her husband Arthur are long-time residents of Schulenburg, where they raised four children who are now grown: A.J., Dominik, Kevin and DeMarcos.