INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — David Nolte loved being the county property appraiser, a job he held for 38 years.

Nolte, 75, died Tuesday, while serving his 10th term. He had been in declining health for the past 1½ years, his wife of 36 years, Michele Nolte, said.

"It just went really fast," she said.

Even as his health deteriorated, Nolte still went to the office to get the job done, Michele Nolte said.

"He just loved it. He wasn't the guy who had hobbies like fishing, golfing or boating," she said. "That was just who he was. He was dedicated to his work and his staff, and he wanted to do a good job. And I think he did. He was truly one of a kind."

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Nolte moved to Indian River County in 1974 and worked as a banker and stockbroker. He was first elected to the position in 1980, the first Republican elected an Indian River County constitutional officer.

"I'm a guy who loves what he does and nothing else," Nolte said after his 2016 re-election.

He often went to the office on weekends, when there fewer employees were there, his wife said.

Campaigning was something that he enjoyed, she said. He was the founder of the Men's Republican Club, but belonged to all the Republican clubs, she said.

"He really was part of the community in more ways than one," she said.

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Shocked, saddened

County Commission Chairman Peter O'Bryan said Nolte and his staff worked well to fairly appraise property values in the county.

"David will be remembered as a very long-serving public servant who dedicated his life to public service," O'Bryan said.

Wesley Davis, a former Indian River County commissioner who ran against Nolte in 2016, said he was shocked and saddened by the news.

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"He was just a good man and he will be sorely missed in this community. We were lucky to have someone like him dedicate so much of his life to public service," Davis said.

Davis said Nolte loved his job and was hardworking, dedicated and frugal with taxpayer dollars during his nearly-40-year career.

"It wasn't work for him because it was what he enjoyed doing every day. And it showed. You could just tell," he said.

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John Kistler, president of the Indian River County Taxpayers Association, said he was grateful to have worked with Nolte.

"He took his job very seriously but he didn't take his life too seriously," Kistler said "When he was at our luncheons he was always outgoing and gregarious and had a big smile on his face."

Kistler said Nolte was an active leader in the community, having served on the boards of the local Salvation Army and Rotary Club, as former president of the Kiwanis Club and former director of the Humane Society of Indian River County.

"I think he really enjoyed being involved in the community," Kistler said. "He wasn't your typical politician."

Big shoes to fill

State law requires that when a vacancy occurs in a Constitutional office with less than 28 months before the end of a term, a replacement is appointed by the governor. Nolte’s term was through 2020, but his appointed replacement would serve until the first week of January 2021.

Elections Supervisor Leslie Swan said Gov. Rick Scott likely will make the appointment before he leaves office.

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"We have five or six people working here now that would be qualified to take over tomorrow morning," Nolte said of his office in 2016.

"We have lots of good employees. It's just a question of who is ready to become a good politician."

In a letter in October, Nolte asked Scott to appoint his assistant property appraiser, Sissy Long, his successor, Michele Nolte said. Long has worked in the Property Appraiser's Office for about seven years, and has learned every aspect of the office, she said.

"He knew she was capable and qualified, as far as her background," Michele Nolte said. She said Long would bring papers to sign and work to Nolte when he was not up to going to the office.