Three finalists vying to become the next San Mateo County Sheriff made their case to residents on Nov. 10 with former San Francisco Police Assistant Chief David Lazar stressing his experience leading a large agency, Interim Gilroy Police Chief Kenneth Binder emphasizing his history helping neighboring Santa Clara County navigate a similar, post-scandal transition, and Solano Community College Police Chief Brian Wynn Huynh Travis citing his hometown roots. 

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors selected three finalists from a pool of six applicants on Nov. 6, in the first public step toward restoring leadership after the historic removal of former Sheriff Christina Corpus. Each candidate’s application was posted online and their interviews were held publicly to promote a transparent recruitment process.

San Mateo County is nearing the end of a year-long standoff over its top law-enforcement office. After Sheriff Christina Corpus was removed for misconduct last month as the first elected sheriff in California ever ousted under a voter-approved accountability measure, the county’s Board of Supervisors is preparing to appoint her successor.