Embattled San Mateo County Sheriff Loses Bid to Block Vote That Could End in Her Removal

A special election on Tuesday to determine whether San Mateo County supervisors will have the power to oust embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus can move forward, a judge ruled this week.

Ballots had already started to go out to voters when Corpus filed a challenge last month to Measure A, which the Board of Supervisors moved to put on the ballot in December. The proposed charter amendment would give the board the authority to remove an elected sheriff without putting voters through a full recall vote.

Corpus contended that the board “lacked statutory authority to present Measure A to the voters in a special election and that the Resolution was tainted by bias and cannot proceed.”

In her ruling on Wednesday, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Nicole Healy wrote she wouldn’t cancel the election as Corpus wanted because, among other reasons, county officials followed proper legal protocols. Healy also denied Corpus’ claim that the state Public Safety Officers’ Procedural Bill of Rights should shield her from the special election, ruling that the county is not her actual employer because “the Attorney General has direct supervisory authority over sheriffs.”

Describing Corpus as “a fighter,” Thomas “Tip” Mazzucco of the San Francisco-based law firm of Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney said in a statement that her legal team is disappointed that the judge didn’t stop the special election, but he added that they “respect the thoughtful consideration” Healy gave to the matter.

County Attorney John Nibbelin said in a statement that Corpus’ decision not to challenge Healy’s tentative ruling “reflects the strength of the County’s legal position” and the care Healy used in reaching her decision.

Corpus took office in 2023 after being the first woman and first Latina candidate to seek the position in county history. It’s because of that she has alleged that she has been unfairly targeted by county officials and those she called “the old guard.”

But early into her term, county officials hired retired judge LaDoris Cordell to investigate what they said was an “unprecedented amount” of complaints against her and her appointed executive director, Victor Aenlle. In her 408-page report released in November, Cordell found that Corpus and Aenlle — who were alleged to be in a romantic relationship, which they deny — led the department with “lies, secrecy, intimidation, retaliation, conflicts of interest, and abuses of authority.”

Corpus and Aenlle were found to have retaliated against department employees for reasons including engaging in union activities, moving on to other positions or participating in Cordell’s investigation.

On Nov. 12, the day Cordell’s report was to be made public, Corpus called for the head of the sheriff’s deputy’s union, Carlos Tapia, to be arrested on suspicion of time card fraud. San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe later determined that there was no evidence to support those claims and cleared Tapia of any wrongdoing.

Tapia alleged he was targeted for being an outspoken critic of the sheriff’s leadership.

In December, supervisors took a vote of no confidence in Corpus’ leadership and advanced Measure A to amend the county’s charter to give them the authority to remove a sheriff for cause by a four-fifths vote, following written notice and a chance to address the allegations against her. Corpus declined to be interviewed by Cordell and only briefly addressed the board at its Nov. 13 meeting, saying she was the victim of a politically motivated attack.

Since then, several county, state and federal lawmakers have called for Corpus to resign, and several municipalities under her jurisdiction have also placed votes of no confidence in her leadership. Still, Corpus has denied those calls, even as all but one of her executive team has resigned.

Most recently, a lawsuit filed by former San Mateo County Sheriff’s Capt. Brian Philip — who was recruited into the role by Corpus and then resigned after defying orders to arrest Tapia — alleges a pattern and practice of behavior inside the sheriff’s department under Corpus’ leadership, including affirming allegations of retaliation and intimidation that Cordell found during her investigation.

If passed, Measure A would be a rare feat in California, as only two other boards of charter counties have been granted such authority before: San Bernardino County in 2001 and Los Angeles County in 2022. Neither board elected to use that power, so should San Mateo County supervisors ultimately decide to vote out its sheriff, it may be the first time in state history.

Those who have signed paperwork in favor of Measure A include U.S. Reps. Anna Eshoo and Kevin Mullin, state Assemblymember Diane Papan, former state Sen. Gerald Hill, South San Francisco Mayor Eddie Flores, San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo and the heads of the two unions representing deputies and sergeants in the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.