San Mateo County supervisors opt for sheriff appointment

Tuesday's meeting comes two weeks after 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 was hunting for direction.

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.

Many public commenters preferred the first option -- that the Board appoint a sheriff to serve the rest of Corpus' term. Those in favor of a long-term appointment said they had confidence the board's decision-making in being able to vet an appointee.

"Please appoint a sheriff to allow much needed healing and forward movement within our Sheriff's Department," said Rebecca Kieler, a resident of unincorporated San Mateo County.

One concern raised with holding an election is that the winner would only have to secure the highest number of votes instead of a majority. Public commenters in favor of an appointment also said they wanted to ensure that the next sheriff will not tolerate cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

"I worry about whether the next sheriff will do everything they can to protect our community from ICE," said San Mateo resident Nancy Bott. "We need a sheriff who will refuse to cooperate with ICE."

The board also heard a joint statement from the sheriff's office unions in the county — the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff's Association, or DSA, and the Organization of Sheriff's Sergeants, or OSS.

Julie Lind of the San Mateo Labor Council, an organization that represents over 100 workers unions in the county including the DSA and OSS, read the statement.

"We also believe that removing the last remnants of former Sheriff Corpus' command staff will allow the sheriff's office to quickly begin the process of rebuilding," Lind said. "To that end, our captains, lieutenants, sergeants and deputies, as well as our civilian colleagues support a long-term appointment to complete the remainder of this Corpus term."

After more than an hour of public comment, the Board had a tense discussion on their preferences in how to fill the sheriff vacancy.

Board President David Canepa and Supervisor Jackie Speier fiercely advocated for the option to appoint an interim sheriff followed by an election in June.

"I have full faith and confidence in the voters," Speier said. "I believe they have the right to elect the sheriff."

Meanwhile, Mueller and Supervisor Noelia Corzo argued in favor of a long-term appointment.

At last week's board meeting, Mueller originally leaned toward allowing voters to choose the next sheriff in the June 2026 election and appointing an interim sheriff for the time being. However, he said at Tuesday's meeting that he was worried that not quickly securing a long-term leader in the Sheriff's Office would only delay its stabilization after the last year of turmoil that plagued the department.

"At the end of our last meeting, I shared with you all that I did have some reservations with respect to the fact that in a special election, someone could win with a very small margin of votes," Mueller said. "I started to also think about the number of times that we're asking our sheriff's department to undergo leadership changes."

Mueller, Corzo and Supervisor Lisa Gauthier voted in favor of the board appointing a sheriff to serve the rest of Corpus' term. Canepa and Speier voted against it.

After the vote, Canepa and Speier voiced their frustrations with the short time frame in which the board has to choose the next sheriff. The board has until Nov. 13 to appoint the next sheriff.

"The appointment process gives just three members on this Board in a two-week stretch the power to pick the county's next top law enforcement officer for the next three years with no voter input whatsoever," Canepa said in a statement released by his office.

For the appointment process, County Executive Mike Callagy said that applications would be accepted until Nov. 5. He also said that the county would send out and advertise a job description "immediately."

"We will endeavor to start that bright and early tomorrow," Callagy said to the board on Tuesday. "Getting information out on how to apply and where to apply. We will do whatever it takes, whether it's radio ads and newspaper ads."

The board said it will plan to hold public forums once the top candidates who apply are vetted and interviewed. Experience in law enforcement, a record of ethical leadership, and ability to be fiscally responsible are some of the qualifications the board will require.