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Merced County CEO Raul Lamelli Mendez to depart May 18; ceremonial baton passed to Mark Hendrickson
Summary
At the May 6 Board of Supervisors meeting, County Executive Officer Raul Lamelli Mendez marked his final meeting and ceremonially passed a leadership baton to Mark Hendrickson, who will serve as interim CEO upon Mendez's May 18 departure. Supervisors praised Mendez and highlighted organizational accomplishments during his three-plus years.
Merced County Executive Officer Raul Lamelli Mendez told the Board of Supervisors at its May 6 meeting that his last day with the county will be May 18 and he formally passed a ceremonial leadership baton to Mark Hendrickson, who will serve as interim CEO upon Mendez’s departure.
Mendez used his remarks to summarize accomplishments during his three-plus years in the role, citing delivery of balanced budgets, improvements to agenda management and public transparency, completion and continuation of capital projects, emergency response and recovery work after 2023 flooding, and work on economic development at the Castle Commerce Center. He also thanked county staff and department heads and asked them to support the person who succeeds him.
The board and several supervisors used the time for public recognition. Supervisor McDaniel thanked Mendez for his “steady hand, a thoughtful approach, and a genuine commitment to public service,” and said the county owes him gratitude for his leadership. Other supervisors and members of the board’s executive team also expressed appreciation for Mendez’s work on labor agreements, capital projects, and the county’s strategic plan.
During the meeting Mendez highlighted administrative changes his office put in place, saying the county began posting agenda materials earlier to increase public access and cited negotiated labor agreements and capital projects that continued during his tenure. He noted the county’s response to a severe flood emergency in 2023 as a recent example of coordinated recovery work.
Mendez invited Mark Hendrickson forward for a ceremonial handoff of a baton he described as “26.2” and asked the department leadership team to support Hendrickson as interim CEO. The transcript records no formal vote or board motion associated with the succession; supervisors voiced support during remarks but did not record a formal appointment vote on the meeting record.
The board adjourned the meeting with the next regular session scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 27.
