San Mateo County board to consider launching removal process for Sheriff Corpus

Two months after voters approved Measure A which granted the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors authority to remove an elected sheriff for cause until the board will hold a special meeting Thursday to consider beginning that process against embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus Supervisors are set to vote on issuing a Notice of Intent to Remove the first formal step in removal procedures approved last month A four-fifths vote is required to advance according to a county news release If approved the notice would outline accusations and trigger a pre-removal conference which must be held within five calendar days If Corpus does not appear at the conference it would be considered a waiver of that right The removal process stems from a -page independent research issued last year led by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell The overview alleged misconduct corruption and an inappropriate relationship between Corpus and her former chief of staff Victor Aenlle Corpus has denied the statements and has resisted mounting calls to resign Under the county charter cause for removal includes violations of laws related to official duties repeated neglect misuse of masses funds falsifying documents or obstructing investigations Last month the board approved formal removal procedures drafted with legal counsel from Hanson Bridgett These are the first such procedures ever adopted by the county and according to County Attorney John Nibbelin likely the first instance in California where a board of supervisors has been authorized to establish its own process for removing a sheriff Following the pre-removal conference a presiding officer possibly a retired judge or county employee would issue a recommendation to the board A second four-fifths vote by the Board of Supervisors would then be required to proceed with the removal process Corpus would have five days to appeal if the appeal is denied it would trigger a formal removal hearing Related Articles Investigator clears San Mateo County executive of misconduct in sheriff s complaint San Mateo County to require quarterly reports on big-ticket purchases Sheriff s union accuses San Mateo County of labor violations Former top sheriff s aide seeks million from San Mateo County over firing Search for missing -year-old Peninsula hiker is scaled back Last month Supervisor Ray Mueller who has previously called for Corpus resignation expressed frustration with delays in the removal process I believe it is manageable to be both time-efficient and fair Mueller mentioned Fairness doesn t just apply to the sheriff it applies to those who work in the sheriff s office and the residents of this county It s time for this board to move forward Supervisor David Canepa responded to Mueller s comments by saying the board has taken time to ensure the process is collaborative and just Corpus the county s first Latina sheriff has pushed back on removal efforts calling them biased and politically motivated She filed a lawsuit seeking access to documents related to the Cordell overview and commissioned a separate review by retired Riverside County Superior Court Judge Burke E Strunsky That review criticized the Cordell review for relying heavily on anonymous sources and unrecorded interviews arguing it failed to adequately assess witness credibility Tensions between Corpus and county leadership have simmered for months with multiple lawsuits and legal indicates filed by both sides The full removal process could take up to four months authorities announced If Corpus is ultimately removed the board would later decide whether to appoint a successor or hold a special voting to fill the remainder of her term The March special voting that made the removal process accomplishable cost more than million according to county administrators