The primary batch of votes in Tuesday’s particular election to oust embattled San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus have been launched and he or she seems destined to lose her job.
Preliminary outcomes that got here out simply after 8 p.m. present that 85.6% of ballots counted to this point are in help of giving the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors the facility to fireplace the sheriff. A majority, or greater than 50%, is required for the modification to be handed.
Voters in San Mateo County headed to the polls or mailed of their ballots to resolve on Measure A, a constitution modification that might grant the Board of Supervisors non permanent authority to take away the Sheriff.
These outcomes embody ballots dropped off at voting facilities by Monday and mail-in ballots obtained by Monday.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the County Registration and Elections Division obtained 91,112 mail-in ballots and 1,216 ballots have been forged at voting facilities.
The Board of Supervisors resorted to holding a particular election after Corpus refused to step down amid scathing allegations about her tenure in workplace. In November, a 400-page impartial investigation into her administration was launched, containing findings of abuse of energy, retaliation, and intimidation.
“The people of this county deserve a sheriff that they can trust, just like the employees of the Sheriff’s Office deserve a sheriff that they can trust,” mentioned Eliot Storch, secretary of the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Affiliation, throughout a press convention instantly following the discharge of the election’s preliminary outcomes Tuesday night time.
The DSA is among the unions that has been outspoken in opposition to Corpus.
“They deserve someone who is not going to be committing these abuses, who is not going to be corrupt, and who’s not going to be causing all these problems, so much to the point that we had to have a special election just because of it,” Storch mentioned.
San Mateo Sheriff Christina Corpus solutions questions on public security, officer retention, and neighborhood service throughout a large ranging interview with the Peninsula Press on the Sheriff’s Workplace in Redwood Metropolis, CA on Oct. 26, 2023. (Peninsula Press through Bay Metropolis Information)
Requires Corpus to resign got here swiftly following the discharge of the report, however she has been steadfast in her promise to remain put. She has mentioned the assaults on her are politically motivated as a result of she is a feminine sheriff up in opposition to a bunch of officers who’re a part of a “good ol’ boys club.”
The Board of Supervisors presently doesn’t have the authority to take away the sheriff or some other elected official, so that they moved to place it on the poll and produce it to the voters.
After discussing their choices, the supervisors determined that getting Measure A handed can be the quickest solution to take away Corpus. A recall election would value more cash and take longer, they concluded.
Opponents of Measure A, together with Corpus, have primarily raised issues that permitting the board to take away an elected official might infringe upon the democratic course of.
“The special Measure A election is not about public safety — it is a blatant attempt by entrenched political forces within the Sheriff’s Office to undo change and silence your voices,” Corpus mentioned in an announcement from February. “This is an attack on democracy, accountability, and the future of law enforcement in San Mateo County.”
‘Their vote was heard’
Nonetheless, Storch believes that voting for or in opposition to Measure A provides San Mateo County voters the prospect to have a say in whether or not Corpus goes or stays.
“They voted in this election. Their vote was heard,” Storch mentioned. “Given how focused it was on Sheriff Corpus and her actions, we believe that this was essentially an expedited recall. If anyone wanted to make their voice heard, they had every opportunity to vote.”
Outdoors the DSA headquarters in Redwood Metropolis, celebrations have been underway as outcomes have been introduced. Screams of cheer erupted as they noticed that Measure A appeared to go overwhelmingly.
Storch spoke on behalf of the DSA to reporters because the preliminary batch of voter outcomes got here in.
“We are extremely excited with this result so far,” Storch mentioned. “Obviously the results are not yet official, not every ball has been counted yet. But what we’ve seen so far from those first results was incredible and it really showed that we have the support of the community.”
Corpus didn’t reply to a request for remark by publication time.
Further tallies will proceed to come back out each hour on Election Evening.
Put up-Election Day outcomes containing ballots obtained after Election Day and extra ballots forged in-person can be launched beginning Thursday.
