San Mateo County supervisors on Tuesday tightened the screws on Sheriff Christina Corpus and their attempts to get her to resign by advancing an ordinance that calls for a special election next spring.
San Mateo County supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to hold a special election on Mar. 4. They will put a county charter amendment on the ballot. If passed by voters, the measure would allow the board to remove Corpus from office with cause by a four-fifths vote.
The board is scheduled to vote on the special election ordinance again Dec. 3 to make it official.
The board has been calling on Corpus to resign after an independent investigation found that her department allegedly fosters a culture of racial and homophobic slurs, retaliation and humiliation.
The investigation also points to evidence showing Corpus and her Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle are involved in a personal relationship. The sheriff says the inquiry was politically motivated, one sided and was filled with lies.
Last week, supervisors met to consider a resolution to remove Aenlle’s position, but Corpus walked into the meeting and proceeded to promote him to assistant sheriff, a position the board has no authority over.
The county does not believe Aenlle, a civilian, meets the requirements to be an assistant sheriff.
Assistant Sheriff Matthew Fox resigned shortly after.
Corpus has not responded to NBC Bay Area's request for an interview in recent days.
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On Monday, lawmakers representing San Mateo County at the state and federal level issued a statement calling on Corpus to resign, saying "the turmoil engulfing the sheriff’s office continues to damage the organization and its members, jeopardize public safety."
The California State Sheriffs’ Association opposed Tuesday’s measure. In a letter, they said the board’s actions would dilute the will of the voters who elected Corpus and raises a separation of powers argument.
Supervisors said the charter amendment could only be used in this specific circumstance and it would expire afterwards.
