San Mateo County supervisors officially gained temporary authority to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus after March 4 special election results were certified Thursday afternoon.

Measure A, which granted supervisors the authority, passed with 84% approval. A total of 108,321 votes were submitted. Support for the measure garnered 90,900 votes, and 17,318 voted against.

Among the 24.4% of those eligible voters who voted in the special election, the county elections office reported 98.42% of ballots were cast by mail, and 1.58% were cast in person.

With the passage of Measure A, the San Mateo Board of Supervisors now has the power to amend the county charter to give supervisors power to remove a sheriff until 2028, the end of Corpus’ elected term.

This may happen at the board’s next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, though the agenda has not yet been posted publicly. Ten days after the charter amendment, the board can issue written notice to Corpus, who faces multiple accusations of corruption, misconduct, workplace bullying and other alleged offenses.

An independent investigation by retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, who found merit in most accusations against Corpus, has generated numerous legal claims involving the sheriff and former Chief of Staff Victor Aenlle.

Following the vote certification, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Organization of Sheriff’s Sergeants, who have been urging Corpus to resign, said they were hopeful she would be removed from office soon.

“While the initiative was in many ways unprecedented, it is our firm belief that, in this case, decisive action was necessary,” the unions said in a statement. “Today’s certified vote means that Sheriff Corpus’ reign of unscrupulous mismanagement will soon come to an end.”

The removal process for Corpus includes hearings and requires a four-fifths vote by the supervisors.

If removed, Undersheriff Dan Perea would assume the role temporarily. According to the San Mateo County attorney’s office, Perea can only serve as interim sheriff until the board either appoints a replacement or calls for a special election.

If a special election is called, Corpus is not precluded from running again.

Corpus previously told this news organization, “It appears Measure A has passed. Unfortunately, the vote took place in an off-cycle election where barely 20% of registered voters participated.”

Corpus has dismissed the accusations against her as biased and politically motivated, and maintains she will not resign.

In the 2022 election, Corpus became the county’s first Latina sheriff, winning with 82,622 votes against her predecessor Carlos Bolanos’ 62,626 votes, a 56.86%-to-43.10% margin.

Following the controversies, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, seven cities across the county, two sheriff’s unions, and state and federal congressional leaders have all called for Corpus to resign.

It is unclear when removal hearings will take place, as Corpus has signaled she and her legal team will challenge the removal efforts in court.

“With the passage of Measure A, I now have the opportunity to appropriately challenge and disprove the allegations against me and my administration,” Corpus said in March. “I am now entitled to a public evidentiary hearing before a neutral and unbiased body. My legal team and I look forward to this opportunity, and are confident that I will be vindicated through a legitimate process.”