County Sheriff Christina Corpus has filed a complaint against the San Mateo Board of Supervisors and other county officials seeking to halt the March 4 special ballot election that, if passed by voters, would grant the board power to remove Corpus from her position.
The complaint was filed in San Mateo County Superior Court on Jan. 10 against the board, Chief Elections Officer Mark Church, and 10 unidentified county employees. It questions the legality of an ordinance passed by the board on Dec. 3, which initiated the special ballot election that would amend the county charter and grant the board power to remove Corpus.
The complaint alleges that the special election on March 4 is illegal because it violates the election code that determines the time a special election can be held. It also alleges that two board members, Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller, should have been disqualified from voting on the ordinance because they were biased against Corpus.
The complaint seeks “injunctive relief,” or a halt of the special election by the Superior Court of California. County Attorney John Nibbelin said that the county will vigorously defend the board’s action, and he hopes the complaint will be “expeditiously dealt with” by the court.
“The petition lacks merit, both as to the law, which it misapplies, and to the facts, which it misconstrues,” said Nibbelin in an email. “We expect that the court will deny relief in this matter and that the election will proceed.”
Corpus’ lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
The complaint is the latest in a saga of political and legal unrest in the Sheriff’s Office, which began last year.
Early signs of turmoil emerged in April when a former County sheriff sued Corpus for alleged retaliation. After 96% of union members in the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office took a vote of no confidence in former Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle, the board initiated an investigation into her office.
The results of the 408-page report revealed abuses of power in the Sheriff’s Office and detailed a multi-year affair between Corpus and Aenlle. Corpus has repeatedly stated that she will not step down from her post even as the Board of Supervisors and congressional and state officials have called on Corpus to resign.
