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 2028 — 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 allegations 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 400-page independent investigation released last year, led by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell. The report alleged misconduct, corruption, and an inappropriate relationship between Corpus and her former chief of staff, Victor Aenlle. Corpus has denied the allegations 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 public 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.
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Last month, Supervisor Ray Mueller, who has previously called for Corpus’ resignation, expressed frustration with delays in the removal process.
“I believe it is possible to be both time-efficient and fair,” Mueller said. “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 report and commissioned a separate review by retired Riverside County Superior Court Judge Burke E. Strunsky. That review criticized the Cordell investigation 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 claims filed by both sides.
The full removal process could take up to four months, officials said. If Corpus is ultimately removed, the board would later decide whether to appoint a successor or hold a special election to fill the remainder of her term.
The March special election that made the removal process possible cost more than $4 million, according to county officials.
