On Thursday, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will convene for a special meeting to debate the potential ousting of Sheriff Christina Corpus, a motion grounded on misconduct allegations. Suppose a four-fifths majority vote is cast in favor. In that case, it'll put in motion the process laid out by Measure A, an amendment backed by an overwhelming 84% of voters, enabling the removal of a sheriff under such circumstances. In tandem with this decision is the consideration of making the Notice of Intent to Remove public unless the sheriff objects, which could stymie the transparency of the process, as reported by the County of San Mateo Executive’s Office.
According to a detailed account published by the San Mateo Daily Journal, a 59-page document supplemented by over 500 pages of evidence and testimonies from 42 witnesses alleges multiple instances of misconduct by Corpus. However, the sheriff has until Wednesday morning to decide if these findings should enter the public domain. This procedural move follows an investigation highlighting multiple acts of misconduct, including law violations pertaining to the sheriff's duties, neglect of these duties, and obstruction concerning the investigation into her conduct.
The meeting's outcomes could trigger a pre-removal conference spearheaded by Chief Probation Officer John Keene, who will then proffer a recommendation regarding the sheriff's potential dismissal, a narrative echoed by both sources. After Keene's input, the supervisors can uphold or overrule his advice. A final decision to remove the sheriff would yet again necessitate a substantive four-fifths vote. It could be further contested by Corpus with a request for an under-oath, evidentiary hearing.
