The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will ask the public Tuesday for their ideas on how to fill the vacancy left when the sheriff was fired.
The board unanimously ousted elected Sheriff Christina Corpus on Oct. 14. Undersheriff Dan Perea, who was hired by Corpus, has assumed the sheriff’s duties but won’t be elevated to the title of interim sheriff.
San Mateo County is the first in California to remove a sheriff chosen by voters. Without any precedent to act as a guide, the board is hunting for direction.
Tuesday’s special meeting will allow the public to offer suggestions and discuss what qualities they want to see in the next sheriff if the board decides to make an appointment.
“This meeting is a vital opportunity for community members to participate in shaping the future of public safety in San Mateo County,” Board President David Canepa said in a statement. “We want to ensure that the new sheriff possesses the qualities and experiences that are most important to our residents.”
Supervisors have three options to fill the vacancy, which they discussed at their regular meeting this past Tuesday.
“We want to ensure that the new sheriff possesses the qualities and experiences that are most important to our residents.”
Supervisor David Canepa
One route is appointing a sheriff to serve the three years remaining in Corpus’ six-year term. Corpus, along with other sheriffs and district attorneys elected in 2022, were given special six-year terms under a new state law so that elections for those offices could coincide with presidential elections, with the next one set for 2028.
Another option is allowing Perea to keep performing the sheriff’s duties until a special election or the next regularly scheduled election in June of next year.
Alternatively, they could appoint a sheriff to serve temporarily until the special or regular election with an agreement providing that they will resign.
At the meeting, most supervisors leaned toward the latter option.
A special election vs. appointment
A special election to select the next sheriff would cost an estimated $3.2 million, County Attorney John Nibbelin told the board. A special election could be scheduled as early as February, instead of waiting until the regular June election.
Canepa said the cost is worth it if it would give a new sheriff a chance to start a fresh chapter in the Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible.
Supervisor Noelia Corzo said she might favor appointing a sheriff to serve the rest of Corpus’ term due to concerns that electing a sheriff could be riskier relating to law enforcement potentially cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The board is required to decide what to do within 30 days of removing Corpus, meaning it has until Nov. 13 to resolve whether to appoint the next sheriff or call for an election.
The special meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 500 County Center in Redwood City. It will also be live streamed.