Christina Corpus, Millbrae’s top cop, could become California’s first Latina sheriff and San Mateo County’s first woman sheriff in its 166-year history if early election results hold up.
With about 63,362 ballots counted as of 1 a.m. Wednesday, Corpus — a sheriff’s office captain who serves as Millbrae’s police chief under the city’s contract with the office — had collected 30,503 votes, or 54%. Her boss, Sheriff Carlos Bolanos, received 25,600, or 45%. Although 433,539 county residents are registered to vote, election officials are still counting mail-in ballots and could not provide an estimate of how many votes were cast.
Whether she ends up with more than the 50% of the votes needed to win the election outright or is forced to run off against Bolanos in the Nov. 8 general election, Corpus says she is “very encouraged” by the results so far.
A victory would culminate two decades of working up the ranks from a correctional officer in the county’s jail to becoming captain.
On Wednesday, Corpus said she owes her support to people in the county who want to see real change in the sheriff’s office.
“It’s very telling of our times that the people in this county are not OK with the status quo and the establishment, the pass-downs and political favors that are always paid back,” Corpus said. “People want someone that’s going to come in and really care about the people in this county and work together to move our law enforcement agency to the 21st century.”
Throughout the campaign, Corpus has been promising to lead a cultural change of the sheriff’s office, fill dozens of vacant deputy positions, raise salaries, rebuild relationships with the immigrant community, reduce lethal force situations and organize better mental health response and follow-up programs.
She’s also promised to fully audit the sheriff’s office budget and “questionable” contracts.
Corpus was passed up for a promotion by Bolanos to be assistant sheriff before being assigned to serve as Millbrae’s police chief, which she called “a blessing in disguise.” She claims the person who got the assistant sheriff’s job wasn’t more qualified than she but Bolanos had “favors to pay back.” Bolanos has denied that.
Corpus also said she’s faced unwarranted scrutiny from Bolanos and his executive team, which Bolanos also denies.
“It’s common knowledge in our organization that if you’re not loyal to the sheriff then you will pay the price,” Corpus said. “That’s the worst kind of leadership when you are feared by your people. I’m not going to be that kind of leader.”
Bolanos did not return a request for comment Wednesday.
Bolanos has been sheriff for six years and also faced opposition in the 2018 election, which he won with 60.4% of the vote against sheriff’s deputy Mark Melville.
Since then, Bolanos has come under fire for cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents seeking to deport people in the sheriff’s custody, a policy he changed in 2021 after years of protest from county residents.
And like many other law enforcement departments across the country, the sheriff’s office faced calls for defunding and reform amid Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd.
Bolanos had also faced criticism after he was detained at an east Las Vegas brothel by the FBI in 2007 along with then-Sheriff Greg Munks. In an interview last week Bolanos said he didn’t commit any crime and “really doesn’t have much to say beyond that, it’s been 15 years.”
The embattled sheriff did not receive the county Democratic Party’s endorsement, that went to Corpus. And other top officials sided with his opponent.
California Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Kevin Mullin, who is likely headed to a run-off against San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa in November, endorsed Corpus, and in a statement Wednesday said he was pleased with the initial results.
“Christina Corpus will bring enhanced transparency to the office,” Mullin said. “I am excited for her to get to work strengthening trust between the sheriff’s office and the public. I have no doubt she will work in a collaborative fashion with other law endorsement agencies to keep our community safe.”
Source: www.mercurynews.com