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The Woodside Town Council voted to approve a resolution to endorse Measure A, a San Mateo County ballot initiative that would allow the Board of Supervisors to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus from office. Although residents asked the town to refrain from taking a stance, all council members except for Jenn Wall voted in favor.
Measure A is on the March 4 ballot. If approved, the county charter will be amended to grant supervisors the authority to remove an elected sheriff for cause by a four-fifths vote. The measure will remain in effect through 2028.
Neighboring cities of Redwood City, San Mateo, San Carlos, Millbrae, Belmont and South San Francisco have also approved resolutions that support the measure or express no confidence in Corpus.
Woodside residents expressed concerns that endorsing or disapproving the measure would “unfairly affect [voters] own decision making” and impact the community’s perspective on the measure.
“Measure A is ultimately a question for the voters and taking an official position on this issue could erode public trust in the democratic process and in the independence of our local government,” said town resident Sue Poletti.
Local architect and Woodside resident Thalia Lubin said that she can’t recall a time in the town’s history when the council had taken a political position such as this. She encouraged the council to remain neutral about the measure and allow people to make their own vote.
Council member Paul Goeld responded to public commenters by emphasizing that Measure A highlights issues that involve their local police force, which patrols the neighborhoods of Woodside. He said he found the reports on Corpus disturbing.
“The current situation of chaos and mistrust in our law enforcement agency is just no longer acceptable. This is our police force. This is our police chief that we’re talking about,” said Goeld. “This is not some academic or esoteric issue for me, I have a perfect right to comment on the person who is in charge of our law enforcement.”
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office serves the town of Woodside under a contract of about $3 million, one of the largest expenses on the town’s annual budget. Council member Dick Brown said the resolution is a way for the town to express whether the town has full confidence in what they’re getting for their money.
Council member Jenn Wall sided with public commenters stating that she believes the council should remain neutral. She expressed her dissatisfaction with Corpus’s “lack of participation in the investigation” and ambiguity behind the resignation of multiple deputies.
“I’m torn about whether the council endorsing Measure A actually would be a political statement or more just the endorsement of a procedural step,” said Wall, who acknowledged all the public commenters’ concerns about the resolution.
Council member Hassan Aburish said he found that some people aren’t aware about the issues that have been reported on Corpus and why Measure A is important. He commented on his support for endorsements as a way to guide residents as town officials who have looked into the issue being presented.
Special elections details
San Mateo County voters can return their mail-in ballots or vote at local polls by March 4. Ballot drop boxes in Woodside are located at Town Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, and at Kings Mountain Fire Brigade, 13889 Skyline Boulevard. For a full list of vote centers visit tinyurl.com/SMCVoteCenter.
To learn more about Measure A, read this news organization’s Measure A voter guide.
