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Law Enforcement Against Corruption, a group founded by the San Mateo Deputy Sheriff’s Association, hosted a fundraiser on Thursday, Jan. 29, at the DSA Hall in Redwood City to support Measure A and advocate for the removal of Sheriff Christina Corpus.
“I think with a lot of people, there was a sense of anticipation and hope that she would bring positive change. But we were very wrong about that,” said DSA Secretary Eliot Storch. “That’s why so many people supporting this campaign are the same ones who once advocated and voted for her. They now see how misled they were and just how bad she really is.”
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance on Dec. 3 to initiate a special election in March 2025. If passed, Measure A would amend the county charter to allow the board to remove Corpus.
The board currently has no authority to remove a sheriff or any elected official from their post.
The Board’s decision was in response to the investigative findings in retired Judge LaDoris H. Cordell’s 408-report report, released by supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller on Nov. 12. The report accuses the sheriff of abuses of power, retaliation and fostering a culture of intimidation, and outlines a years-long affair between Corpus and her former Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle. It also details discriminatory behavior, conflicts of interest and ethical violations, including Aenlle’s alleged improper access to weapons, unapproved outside employment and threats against employees.
“Judge Cordell’s report shared some pretty scathing things that no elected official should be a part of,” said Camryn McNab, the campaign manager for Measure A. “It’s so inappropriate, some of the things that she’s been doing, and it affects public safety all throughout the county.”
Approximately 100 people attended the fundraiser, including several DSA union members. Also in attendance were California Assemblymember Diane Papan, San Carlos Vice Mayor Pranita Venkatesh, and Julie Lind, executive officer of the San Mateo Labor Council.
According to McNab, the group plans to use the funds for voter outreach through phone banking, text messaging, signboards and social media to help pass Measure A.
“We are making sure that we’re reaching as many voters as possible throughout the county and letting them know of the corruption that’s going on in the sheriff’s office, and that ultimately we have a sheriff that we cannot trust,” said Vanessa Lemus Tapia, daughter of Carlos Tapia, president of San Mateo County DSA.
While many at the fundraiser were optimistic about the measure’s chances, opponents have also been vocal on social media.
An Instagram page called transparencySMC claims the investigation was marred by misinformation and a lack of transparency, preventing the sheriff from addressing allegations in real time. Citing the political nature of the situation, the page’s administrators declined to reveal their identities.
In a written statement to this publication, the group said that the public has not had the opportunity to fully examine all sides of the issues leading up to Measure A.
“As the first female sheriff of SMC, she should be allowed to serve her full-term and correct any oversights identified in the first half of her tenure, especially given the leniency afforded to her predecessors by the DA and county supervisors for much more egregious allegations,” said a spokesperson for the group.
The formal arguments and rebuttals, in favor of and opposing the charter amendment, are available on the San Mateo County Elections Division website.
The arguments in favor of the ballot measure were submitted and signed by former U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, Supervisor Noelia Corzo, Sheriff’s Sgt. Sean Harper, a board member of the Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants and Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Silano, secretary of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
Dan Stegink, a resident of Pacifica, submitted and signed the arguments against the ballot measure.
Stegink mentioned in his rebuttal that the measure is “a political grab by a few local supervisors.” He added that if the measure passes, it will take away voters’ power to elect an independent sheriff, replacing democracy with bureaucracy.
James Johnson, a Redwood City resident, told this publication he plans to file a federal lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors in Northern California District Court in the coming weeks.
“So now you have five people on the Board that are trying to eradicate 86,000 votes in San Mateo County, and that process is not justified and is not in accordance with the laws and the voting laws in regards to impeaching,” Johnson said.
Some argue that the Board’s actions regarding Measure A were undemocratic, while others, like Storch, maintain that the final decision remains in the hands of voters.
“Christina likes to say that this is somehow taking away the voters power,” Storch said. “But this is a vote. If the voters don’t want this charter amendment to pass, they’ll vote against it.”
