San Mateo latest to call for sheriff’s resignation

Some councilmembers also explicitly stated their support for Measure A, which would ultimately remove Corpus from her position if passed. The measure proposes the passage of a charter amendment granting the Board of Supervisors the authority, until Dec. 31, 2028, to remove an elected sheriff from office for just cause with four-fifths vote of the board.

The city’s resolution does not mention Measure A, though it calls on the sheriff to resign.

San Carlos and Millbrae, both cities that contract their law enforcement services with the Sheriff’s Office, voted no confidence in Corpus.

During public comment, Hector Acosta, president of the San Mateo County Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants, said he and others regularly operate with fear of retaliation from the sheriff.

“I’ve been retaliated against already, and I fear it and it’s real,” Acosta said. “We need change. The fear is real as well, as the demoralization of our office. We need some change and we need some help.”

The city does not contract with the county for law enforcement services like San Carlos, but Mayor Rob Newsom said it was still important for the city to take a stand on the matter.

“I initially thought this is county business, and we’re the city, but as I weighed in and learned more about this, the crossovers between the city of San Mateo and the county cannot be overlooked,” Newsom said. “San Mateo is home to many of these deputy sheriff employees and as such we cannot allow them to be working in such a hostile work environment. We can’t allow the sheriff to continue to berate management and punish people for being whistleblowers.”

Corpus said retaliation accusations are often vague and are in response to operational choices the office makes.

“If they don’t like something that’s being done, they’ll scream retaliation even if it’s past practice or it’s something that’s been done for many years,” Corpus said, citing practices like the transferring of personnel within specialty divisions.

Almost the entire sworn staff in the Sheriff’s Office has asked Corpus to resign, as well as the San Carlos City Council, congressional and legislative leaders and the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Corpus has repeatedly stated she will not step down.

She also reached out to Newsom the day before the meeting asking to speak outside of public comment, which is usually capped at three minutes, to be able to respond in detail to the resolution presented.

“I had asked, and I got no response, so it was telling for me as to where the vote was going to go. They’re basing their decisions on a report that was paid to be a hit piece on me,” Corpus said. “It’s disappointing, but I understand that the unions are powerful, and every politician wants to have the backing of unions.”

Dan Stegink, author of the ballot argument against the measure, has also repeatedly expressed skepticism on both Measure A and the controversy, stating the issue is no more than a labor dispute between the Sheriff’s Office and the union.

“This is a labor problem. The Board of Supervisors should have inserted a labor negotiator to solve this problem in 72 hours. Instead it’s a power grab by a few local supervisors who seek to appoint an insider loyal to them and elevate their own [district attorney] campaign,” he said during the council meeting. “Measure A is voter suppression, and it strips voters of their right to elect an independent sheriff.”

The special election will take place March 4.