Supes name new San Mateo County Sheriff
San Mateo County board selects Ken Binder as new sheriff
San Mateo Board of Supervisors President Dave Canepa called it a "new day" as the Board selected Ken Binder to become the new sheriff, after a divisive year that led to the Board hearing accusations of corruption and eventually dismissing former Sheriff Christina Corpus.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday picked the county’s next sheriff, filling the vacancy left after former Sheriff Christina Corpus was removed from office
Supervisors named Kenneth Binder, interim chief of police in Gilroy and former undersheriff of Santa Clara County to the post. He came highly recommended by many public speakers at the hearing, including a group of sheriff's sergeants.
He was selected over two other finalists: David Lazar, a retired San Francisco police officer who served as an assistant chief; and Brian Wynn Hyunh Travis, chief of police for the Solano Community College District and a former San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office deputy of 14 years.
Former Santa Clara County Undersheriff Kenneth Binder was appointed the new sheriff of San Mateo County. Nov. 12, 2025
The vote was 4-1.
Board of Supervisors President Dave Canepa was the lone vote against; he wanted Lazar.
Before the vote, Binder took the podium to state his qualifications.
"I am the only candidate that has a proven track record of leading a large sheriff's office," he told the board, adding that he also has years of experience running the jails.
Supervisors opted to appoint a replacement rather than hold a special election, and they gave themselves a deadline of Wednesday to make their final decision. The new sheriff will serve out the remainder of Corpus’ term, which runs through January 2029.
Corpus was ousted following the release of the ‘Cordell Report’ nearly a year ago, which accused her of corruption and fostering a toxic workplace environment. The report sparked months of investigations and public pressure that ultimately led to her removal.
Now that San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus is gone: What's next?
Now that San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus has announced her retirement – hours after she was fired – many community members are wondering: What's next?
The board last week announced three finalists for the position: Kenneth Binder, interim chief of police in Gilroy and former undersheriff of Santa Clara County; David Lazar, a retired San Francisco police officer who served as an assistant chief; and Brian Wynn Hyunh Travis, chief of police for the Solano Community College District and a former San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office deputy of 14 years.
County leaders held a public forum earlier this week to vet the candidates and hear from residents, many of whom called for a sheriff with integrity, strong leadership, and a commitment to upholding the county’s sanctuary city policies regarding federal immigration enforcement.
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputy Association said it would not endorse any candidate, citing the board’s accelerated timeline for making the appointment rather than concerns about qualifications.
The board’s special meeting begins at 9 a.m., with the selection of the new sheriff as its only agenda item.