SAN ANTONIO – After serving the City of San Antonio for 16 years as city clerk, Leticia Vacek is retiring this March.
- Originally from McAllen, Texas
- Held the position through 5 mayors
- Attended over 1,000 council meetings
If you’ve ever been to a San Antonio city meeting you’ve probably seen Vacek, but she acknowledges you likely wouldn’t recognize her face.
The San Antonio city clerk can usually be found in the front row seat at City Council “A” session meetings. She sits right in front of the dais, the raised platform where the councilors sit, facing the mayor and council, but turning her back to the audience.
"People say, 'Oh, you're the city clerk?' I say, ‘Yeah,’” said Vacek while turning so her back faces forward. “As soon as you see this (you recognize me). This is what you see."
She’s held the job for the last 16 years, calling role call at every meeting, reading agendas, keeping records including meeting meetings, and listening to every person who gives a public comment.
“This (City Council chambers) is where I spend 60 percent of my time,” she said.
Vacek has attended 1,095 City Council meetings and signed more than 17,000 minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. She’s served five mayors and 101 City Council members.
But when she’s not at City Council, she turns her attention to what she says are other vital functions of her office.
Vacek implemented the city’s Passport Acceptance Facility that has generated more than $5 million in revenue for the city’s general fund.
She also spends time preserving city history including making sure every mayor gets their portrait hung on the walls of the city building and archiving old records so future generations can learn more about San Antonio.
“We have many wonderful records within our collection that date back to 1770," she said.
Now she’s ready to retire. Her last day is March 6. The McAllen, Texas, native says leaving isn’t easy but after witnessing nine city elections, it’s finally time.
"It's wonderful to know what we are documenting today will be here forever," she said.