San Mateo County Supervisors Vote to Appoint Ken Binder as New Sheriff Amid Controversy Surrounding Former Sheriff Christina Corpus.
In a 4-1 vote, San Mateo County supervisors have selected former Santa Clara Undersheriff Ken Binder as the county's new sheriff, marking a swift end to a year-long battle to remove former Sheriff Christina Corpus. Supervisor David Canepa and Jackie Speier had opposed an appointment process, instead advocating for voters to decide on the matter. However, their views were outnumbered by proponents of appointing a leader who could stabilize the department amid years of turmoil.
Binder was chosen due to his experience in neighboring Santa Clara County, which shares similarities with San Mateo County in terms of economics and administration. He spent most of his 27-year law enforcement career working for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, including a stint as acting sheriff in 2022 following former Sheriff Laurie Smith's resignation.
The decision comes on the one-year anniversary of a county-commissioned report detailing allegations of misconduct and abuse of power against Corpus. The report led to her removal last month, with Corpus denying all allegations and maintaining that her rights and due process were violated.
Supervisor Carlos Tapia was arrested on suspicion of timecard fraud, an action union leaders claimed was retaliatory for his criticism of Corpus. Despite this, Binder emphasized the need to move forward quickly, stating that he plans to install a new executive team within 90 days to implement reforms. He intends to hire individuals who have earned respect and trust from the organization, including those unfairly investigated by internal affairs.
Binder's appointment process was swift, with applications closing on November 5th followed by interviews and a public forum just over a week later. Supporters argue that appointing a leader is crucial for stabilizing the department amidst turmoil. However, critics had pushed for voters to decide on the matter, citing concerns about transparency and accountability.
With Binder expected to serve until January 2029, his tenure comes as a response to controversy surrounding Corpus's removal. The decision has sparked debate in the community, with some expressing support for an appointment process while others advocate for voters' involvement in selecting future sheriffs.
In a 4-1 vote, San Mateo County supervisors have selected former Santa Clara Undersheriff Ken Binder as the county's new sheriff, marking a swift end to a year-long battle to remove former Sheriff Christina Corpus. Supervisor David Canepa and Jackie Speier had opposed an appointment process, instead advocating for voters to decide on the matter. However, their views were outnumbered by proponents of appointing a leader who could stabilize the department amid years of turmoil.
Binder was chosen due to his experience in neighboring Santa Clara County, which shares similarities with San Mateo County in terms of economics and administration. He spent most of his 27-year law enforcement career working for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, including a stint as acting sheriff in 2022 following former Sheriff Laurie Smith's resignation.
The decision comes on the one-year anniversary of a county-commissioned report detailing allegations of misconduct and abuse of power against Corpus. The report led to her removal last month, with Corpus denying all allegations and maintaining that her rights and due process were violated.
Supervisor Carlos Tapia was arrested on suspicion of timecard fraud, an action union leaders claimed was retaliatory for his criticism of Corpus. Despite this, Binder emphasized the need to move forward quickly, stating that he plans to install a new executive team within 90 days to implement reforms. He intends to hire individuals who have earned respect and trust from the organization, including those unfairly investigated by internal affairs.
Binder's appointment process was swift, with applications closing on November 5th followed by interviews and a public forum just over a week later. Supporters argue that appointing a leader is crucial for stabilizing the department amidst turmoil. However, critics had pushed for voters to decide on the matter, citing concerns about transparency and accountability.
With Binder expected to serve until January 2029, his tenure comes as a response to controversy surrounding Corpus's removal. The decision has sparked debate in the community, with some expressing support for an appointment process while others advocate for voters' involvement in selecting future sheriffs.
I'm kinda shocked that they just appointed someone new without going through the whole voter process thing... I get that stability is important and all, but can't we have a little more transparency about who's gonna be running our sheriff's department? 
I mean, I've heard some good things about Ken Binder, but what if he's got skeletons in his closet that nobody's aware of? 
At least with an election, you know you've got the whole community weighing in on it. Now, I'm not saying Corpus was perfect or anything... 
but this just feels like a bit of a rush job to me... 
. appointing a new sheriff without even giving the people a say is kinda shady, you know? it's all about stability and moving forward, but what about due process and transparency? 
it's all a bit too convenient for me. and what about Carlos Tapia getting arrested on suspicion of timecard fraud? that's some shady stuff right there 
. i mean, i get it, the county needs a leader who can stabilize the department, but at what cost? 
. I'm not saying they're right, but in this case, I think it's the better move all around 
. I gotta say, super slow process 
. Should've just put it to a vote like some ppl wanted 
to the dept after all that drama 
. Still not sure if his Santa Clara exp is gonna help or hinder 
!
. Binder seems pretty focused on moving forward and implementing reforms, that's a good sign 