Is Defeated Sheriff Carlos Bolanos Contemplating Dancing the Disability Two-step?

By Michael G. Stogner

June 7th’s election signaled a sea change for San Mateo County’s Sheriff’s Office, with challenger Christina Corpus ousting Sheriff Carlos Bolanos. The wake of this defeat has undoubtedly left Carlos Bolanos and his department appointees with a number of pressing decisions, upmost of which is what do I do now?

Undoubtedly, the number one question for Bolanos is will he follow his predecessor and attempt to go out on a lifetime paid medical disability, one in which he will receive an untaxed paycheck with medical benefits for life? When Carlos said to the press, going forward, he needed to speak to his family about his future, is that what he meant?

And if Carlos puts in a workman’s compensation claim, alleging such a disability, one qualifying him for lifetime pay, will the County question it, given the fact that he hadn’t said he couldn’t perform the duties and responsibilities of Sheriff, before losing the election? The County and its governing body, the Board of Supervisors, apparently hadn’t, in the case of Carlos’ predecessor, Sheriff Greg Munks, rubber stamping his exit……. but then again Munks hadn’t lost an election?

Will the board afford Carlos the same golden parachute, realizing the irony of his losing the election, should he allege such a disability? If the Board does, what message would it send to those county employees who have had legitimate claims which the County had contested and or denied? Better yet, what message would that send to county residents, the Board’s employer?

And given Carlos is a Carpetbagger, a person who was not a homegrown County employee and had merely gone from one law enforcement agency to another, accruing & building retirement options, versus his homegrown challenger, Christina Corpus, should the County entertain such a claim and sign off on it?

If Carlos attempts such an exit, shouldn’t that necessarily disqualify him from seeking any further public office? Perhaps not, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe has ardently supported Bolanos, ever since he (Bolanos) had been detained by the FBI & Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, in 2007, at a human trafficking site, one where indentured sex slaves, to include a minor and the illicit drug ecstasy were being sold. If such embracing of bad behavior by District Attorney Wagstaffe is any indication of things to come then I’d say the citizens of San Mateo county are going to be financially on the hook for Carlos’ exit.

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