Canepa looks to high-profile year

Canepa said never before has been in such a position before, stating this upcoming special election and consideration of removing Christina Corpus as sheriff is “one of the most consequential issues” he’s dealt with as an elected official. 

The upcoming special election March 4, 2025, is an unprecedented effort to expand the Board of Supervisors’ authority over an elected official, sparked by a jarring investigative report into Corpus and her executive team.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but what I do have is a sense of where this may go,” Canepa said. “At the end of the day, it is the voters’ decision that is going to carry.” 

Technically, the voters will decide whether the board should be allowed, until Dec. 31, 2028, to remove an elected sheriff from office through a four-fifths vote. However, the special election has been framed in the past, and again by Canepa, as ultimately giving voters the direct line as to whether Corpus should be removed from office. 

“We have a very informed and educated electorate, and they’re going to make that decision,” Canepa said.

Many, including residents and board Vice President Noelia Corzo, have shared they have had to come to terms with Corpus’ failed tenure as sheriff after initially supporting her campaign for election in 2022. Canepa never did. 

“I was right,” was all Canepa said.  

The board’s president said he has thought of all the possible outcomes every day since the release of the investigative report, and has given thought to what needs to happen should Corpus ultimately be removed. In his opinion, a subsequent special election should occur shortly after to fill the spot. 

Although he said “even Stevie Wonder” could see that the Sheriff’s Office is one of the most pressing issues of the county to deal with this year, there are more than 5,000 other employees and 750,000 residents on which the board must also focus. 

“This county cannot be distracted by focusing all of our energy on the sheriff’s issue,” Canepa said. “It’s a big issue but we have other things to worry about.” 

Trump’s impact

The return of Donald Trump to the White House also presents much uncertainty about what will come of immigration policy, federal funding, and health care eligibility. 

Although Canepa said he’s going to be inviting Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom to the planned ribbon cutting ceremony of 500 County Center — timely planned for the county’s birthday in May — he acknowledged the concern many residents have about immigration policy and the threats of mass deportations. 

Canepa reaffirmed that San Mateo County will not work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in any capacity, but reminded residents to know their rights and make a plan in the case of detention. As nerves rise, San Mateo County’s Rapid Response Hotline, (203) 666-4472, remains a viable way for residents to confirm or report possible immigration authority sightings.

“If people don’t feel safe, they may not report crimes, there are different things that could go wrong,” Canepa said. “We want people to feel comfortable that they aren’t going to be deported, or if they do, that they have enough resources.” 

Emergency preparedness

Federal funding to matters such as emergency response is often rooted in a county’s preparedness, Canepa said, so making sure the county is best equipped for whatever may happen is integral, especially considering the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County that have demanded assistance from San Mateo County firefighters. 

In coming weeks, Canepa said he is requesting CalFire and the Emergency Management Department give a presentation on preparedness to combat a situation that may be similar to the devastation down south. 

Other emergency readiness avenues should include the essential infrastructure projects and updates, Canepa said, including the establishment of ferry service at the Port of Redwood City. 

After the infrastructure project for the ferry and terminal were initially left off of Plan Bay Area 2050+, a major regional infrastructure plan, Canepa’s advocacy at Metropolitan Transportation Commission Planning Committee meetings has placed it back on its transportation project list. The project has been included for final approval at a MTC meeting Jan. 22, Canepa said. 

Representation

One of Canepa’s goals is to make sure San Mateo County is thoroughly represented in regional matters, and not discarded as a “sleepy suburb.” 

“We have a lot of influence here and we need to use that influence when it comes to these regional issues,” Canepa said. 

Regional responsibility also funnels down to the county’s districts, Canepa said. As a representative for District 5, the northernmost parts of the county that Canepa often feels is overlooked, he plans to make sure funding is properly distributed from Daly City to Menlo Park and toward the coast. 

Measure K, the funds obtained through a voter-approved half-cent tax, is critical to accomplish this, Canepa said. 

“Measure K district discretionary funds has been the most powerful tool to reach communities we likely would have never reached,” Canepa said. “To me, Measure K is an injection to show San Mateo County really values nonprofits, [community-based organizations], its cities.” 

Proud of what Measure K dollars have been dedicated toward so far — “these might not be headlines, but it’s work that needs to get done day in and day out” — Canepa added that county money should be dedicated toward addressing the high cost to live in the area. 

Workforce housing, board transition

In what he described as an effort to shrink the middle class and mitigate long commutes endured by county employees, Canepa proposes establishing workforce housing in downtown Redwood City at the current site of the San Mateo County Law Library. 

“This is the perfect location to build workforce housing on limited county-owned land and retain employees who may be tempted to leave their jobs for ones closer to home,” Canepa said.  

Though Canepa is not new to the center of the dais, he acknowledges how much has changed since he last was the board’s president in 2021 at the height of the pandemic. With supervisors Jackie Speier and Lisa Gauthier seated, a great deal of experience and value is added that will equip the governing body to weather anything that will present itself, he said.

“Typically when you deal with these transitions, it can be very challenging,” Canepa said. “But I think the board is really positioned with the right blend of personalities and intellect to really achieve a lot in 2025.” 

ana@smdailyjournal.com

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