San Mateo County is moving quickly to fill its vacant sheriff’s position following the unprecedented removal of Christina Corpus, who was both the first Latina elected to the role in 2022 and the first sheriff in the state removed by a board of supervisors amid conflict-of-interest and retaliation accusations.
After supervisors voted Tuesday to appoint a replacement rather than hold a special election, the county published its qualifications and application process Wednesday night. Submissions are due by noon on Nov. 5.
The county will have just eight days to select a new sheriff to meet the Nov. 13 deadline set by a charter amendment. Staff have been directed to “pursue an appointment process that emphasizes transparency, accountability and community trust.”
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To be considered, candidates must be San Mateo County residents and meet state requirements, including holding a valid California Peace Officer Standards and Training certificate or demonstrating equivalent education and experience.
The appointment decision followed a contentious meeting on Tuesday, where supervisors ultimately voted 3-2 to opt for a board-selected appointee instead of calling for a special election, which would have taken several months and cost the county an estimated $3.2 million.
Despite the appointment being made by the Board of Supervisors, the county has set out a tight schedule of key public dates to ensure the community has input.
On Nov. 6, the Board of Supervisors will hold a public meeting to interview all qualified candidates and select a group of finalists. A public candidates forum is set for Nov. 10, where residents can submit questions for a moderator to ask the finalists.
Final interviews and the board’s selection of a new sheriff are scheduled for Nov. 12. Details on requirements, public input, and the full process are available on the San Mateo County website.
The individual selected will take command of a large public safety organization, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, which employs more than 800 sworn and civilian staff operating with a budget of over $300 million. It provides law enforcement services countywide, serving unincorporated areas and acting as the police for the cities of Millbrae, San Carlos, Half Moon Bay, Woodside, and Portola Valley, as well as providing investigation services at San Francisco International Airport.
