San Mateo County, CA
12/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/03/2024 20:24
County Supervisors to Ask Voters for Power to Remove Sheriff
Board Unanimously Adopts Charter Amendment Proposal, Invites Sheriff to Give Sworn Testimony at Next Meeting
December 3, 2024
Redwood City - The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday acted to ask voters for the power to remove an elected sheriff if four out of the five supervisors agree the sheriff is unfit for office.
Voters will be asked on the March 4, 2025, ballot to give the Board authority to remove a sitting sheriff for cause, which includes violation of any law related to the performance of a sheriff's duties, flagrant or repeated neglect of duties, misappropriation of public funds, willful falsification of official statements or documents, and/or obstruction of justice.
Under the proposed County Charter amendment, the Board must first give the sheriff written notice and an opportunity to be heard publicly. Then the Board would take a public vote. The proposed amendment has a sunset clause of December 2028 at which time the Board's temporary authority to remove a sheriff will end.
The Board first introduced the proposed Charter amendment in November, followed by the required second reading at today's regular meeting.
The Board currently does not have the authority to remove another elected official but, as a Charter County, can ask voters to grant it by amending the Charter. The ask of voters follows issuance of a 400-page independent investigatory report into Sheriff Christina Corpus and her executive team.
Board members said this ballot measure is the fastest way to give voters a voice.
Supervisor Ray Mueller, who brought the proposal to the Board with Corzo, said time is of the essence and expressed concern about the department's readiness to respond to a public safety event.
The County Attorney said a voter-driven recall would not reach election until November 2025 at the earliest and, more likely, in April 2026.
While the Board moved the measure forward toward election, it could pull it back up until Dec. 11. The Board voted in favor to invite the sheriff alongside counsel of her choosing to its Dec. 10 regular meeting to provide sworn testimony about any of the allegations in the report and answer questions.
The Charter Amendment measure that will go before voters as a yes/no question:
Shall the measure amending the San Mateo County to grant the Board of Supervisors authority until December 31, 2028 to remove an elected Sheriff from office for cause, including for violation of law related to a Sheriff's duties, flagrant repeated neglect of duties, misappropriation of public funds, willful falsification of documents, or obstructing an investigation, by a four-fifths vote of the Board of Supervisors, after written notice and an opportunity to be heard, be adopted?
Judge LaDoris Cordell's full report as well as associated news releases and videos of news conferences and Board of Supervisors meetings is available here.
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