Redwood City – The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors yesterday appointed Ken Binder as Sheriff, concluding a process that invited public participation at every step. Sheriff Binder took the oath of office later that afternoon and officially began his term as the County’s 27th Sheriff.
The appointment fills the vacancy following a series of special Board of Supervisors meetings, which were open to the public and included public comment, in person and online. From candidate interviews to a community forum to yesterday’s selection, the process invited residents to learn about the candidates, submit questions for the candidates to answer, and share their viewpoints before yesterday’s vote.
When the decision was final, Sheriff Binder, former top official in the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, was greeted with a round of applause from those attending the public meeting in the Board Chambers in County Center.
“Today we turn the page on an unprecedented crisis,” Supervisor Ray Mueller said. “Today marks the promise of a new spring – a chance to restore stability, experience, and trusted leadership to the Sheriff’s Office. I believe Chief Binder will rebuild confidence, strengthen public trust, and ensure that every member of our community is served at the highest level of excellence by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office."
Supervisor Noelia Corzo addressed Sheriff Binder directly, saying, “You are a living example that justice can and does prevail. I am not alone in this belief because you’ve done something that few others have been able to do, and that is unify our community in the face of forces that seek to divide us. Now, I am going to make a statement that may be risky and that I do not take lightly. I believe that you will be a Sheriff San Mateo County can trust. Please do everything in your power to prove our community right.”
Sheriff Binder brings decades of law-enforcement experience to San Mateo County along with a record of leadership grounded in community service and accountability.
He most recently served as Interim Chief of Police for the City of Gilroy. The majority of his career was spent with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, where he rose to Undersheriff and led operations for the agency’s $551 million budget and 1,893 sworn and professional staff positions. He holds a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Members of the Board cited Sheriff Binder’s qualifications and long record of service as key factors in their decision, emphasizing that the appointment process upheld the County’s standards of openness and community engagement.
“Congratulations to Sheriff Binder on this well-earned appointment,” Supervisor Lisa Gauthier said. “This is a moment to move forward together — continuing to strengthen the bonds between law enforcement and every community we serve.”
Supervisor Jackie Speier said, “This is Day 1 of a new beginning of accountability and integrity. We’re going to have a sheriff who is committed to rebuilding the office and restoring our faith in the department. A lot of work needs to get done, but we finally have a solid partner in Sheriff Binder.”
At Wednesday’s meeting, Supervisors Corzo, Mueller, Speier and Gauthier voted for Sheriff Binder. President Canepa voted for David Lazar, a former Assistance Chief in the San Francisco Police Department. “I had the opportunity to talk with Sheriff Binder after the vote and I look forward to working with him as the Sheriff’s Office begins to heal,” Board of Supervisors President David Canepa said.
Sheriff Binder will serve the remainder of the current term, until January 2029. He assumes leadership of the largest law-enforcement agency in San Mateo County, with more than 800 sworn and professional staff who serve approximately 750,000 residents. The Sheriff’s Office provides patrol services to unincorporated communities as well as the cities of San Carlos, Millbrae and Half Moon Bay, the towns of Portola Valley and Woodside, and Caltrain and SamTrans.
The Sheriff’s Office also operates and manages the County’s correctional facilities, conducts criminal investigations and manages specialized task forces that focus on addressing illegal narcotics, vehicle theft crimes, gang activity and more. The Sheriff’s Office supports specialized volunteer units and oversees search and rescue operations.
Sheriff Binder’s appointment concludes a selection process designed to give residents multiple ways to participate and stay informed, including through a new website. Recruitment opened October 29 and closed November 5, with applicants screened to meet legal requirements. The Board publicly interviewed six qualified candidates on Nov. 6 and narrowed the field to three finalists.
Three finalists then took part in a moderated public forum on Monday, Nov. 10 before the Board’s final appointment following open deliberations. Residents submitted nearly 400 questions via an online form as well as postcards that were collected at senior centers, libraries, local service agencies and community centers. In all, the Board heard from over 140 speakers during public comment periods and received dozens of written comments during the open selection process.
Public outreach efforts to engage the public and communities in the selection process spanned social, print, broadcast, and radio, and were conducted in multiple languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Tongan, and Tagalog, to ensure that residents from across San Mateo County could learn about the process, review candidate materials and share their perspectives.
More than 500 community organizations reached out to their clients and constituents across the county, with a particular focus on reaching underrepresented communities. A dedicated website received more than 7,600 visits, and over 800 community members attended the Board meetings and Candidate Forum in-person or virtually. These meetings incorporated feedback from more than 140 community members via in-person, written and Zoom comments.
Learn more about the process at smcgov.org/ceo/new-sheriff.
Effie Milionis Verducci
Interim Director of Strategic Communications
650-407-4915
everducci@smcgov.org