BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Ron Galatolo, the former chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District who was convicted of lying about lavish gifts from contractors, was sentenced yesterday to eight months in jail.
Deputy District Attorney Joseph Cannon argued for prison time, saying Galatolo showed a pattern of fraud in his professional and personal life.
“This is definitely a case about integrity — public integrity, the defendant’s integrity,” Cannon said. “The defendant had access to vendors, he had access to information that he was entrusted with, and he abused it to enrich himself.”
But Galatolo’s attorney Chuck Smith downplayed Galatolo’s crimes and asked Judge Leland Davis for probation.
“Nobody was hurt. Nobody lost any money,” Smith said, pointing to Galatolo’s accomplishments as chancellor from 2001 to 2019.
“A culture of public corruption? No, a culture of public excellence. That’s what he created,” Smith said.
Davis agreed that the college district thrived under Galatolo’s leadership, and he was very well-respected.
But Galotolo, 62, of Menlo Park, had another side that was willing to lie and cheat, Davis said.
Davis said he wasn’t satisfied by Galatolo’s written statement, which minimized and explained away his actions. For example, Galatolo said he should’ve been more diligent when he filed his taxes.
“The proper word is not diligent but honest,” Davis said. “I don’t get that feeling of remorse … Your actions here were clearly intentional.”
Good to be king
Davis pointed to a statement Galatolo made repeatedly to friends and his ex-wife: “It’s good to be the king.”
Galatolo flew first-class to Dubai, attended big NHL, NBA and NFL playoff games and took a helicopter tour of Mt. Everest, according to a probation report that recommended prison.
Galatolo’s excursions were funded by five construction firms that signed contracts with the college district. Those firms have agreed to pay the district $20 million to settle a civil lawsuit.
Lengthy investigation
The DA’s office began investigating Galatolo in November 2018 after the college district’s former HR director, Eugene Whitlock, contacted District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe’s office. Whitlock was fired after he sat down for an interview with the DA’s office in April 2019.
Galatolo abruptly announced his retirement at a first-day-of-school celebration at Canada College in August 2019.
The district reached a $2.3 million separation agreement with Whitlock in April 2020. Galatolo also got his own golden parachute, receiving $467,700 a year as “chancellor emeritus” — a position that had never existed before. The college district’s board fired him from that job in February 2021.
Galatolo was arrested at the airport in April 2022 and later charged with 27 felonies.
His trial went from Oct. 29 to Jan. 7 at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. After nine days of deliberations, jurors reached a verdict on eight charges for perjury and tax evasion.
Galatolo avoided convictions for taking bribes from contractors, misappropriating public funds and embezzlement.
He was convicted of lying to the DMV about the price of a 1963 Corvette, lying on his taxes about donating to a fire relief fund at Santa Rosa Junior College and failing to report gifts from contractors on financial disclosure forms.
Four months in jail
Davis ordered Galatolo yesterday to pay restitution to the DMV and the California Franchise Tax Board, plus $1,160 in fines and fees. Galatolo is expected to spend four months in jail because the state gives double credit for time served, allowing for his release at the end of November. He has to spend two years on probation and complete 100 hours of community service.
Davis ordered Galatolo to complete his community service in a Latino community.
He didn’t say why, but Smith clarified after the hearing that Galatolo’s ex-wife’s friend, who testified during the trial, accused Galatolo of making a comment about Mexicans not paying college tuition.
Smith said he believed yesterday’s sentence was fair, given that Galatolo once faced 16 years in prison.
Taken into custody
After Davis announced the sentence, deputies placed Galatolo in handcuffs. Galatolo turned around and frowned at three women supporting him in the crowd before he was escorted out of the courtroom.
“He’s going to be wearing an orange jumpsuit. He is going to know he is being punished … Today we got justice,” Wagstaffe said in an interview after the sentencing.
Smith asked to delay the sentence so Galatolo could go to doctor’s appointments in August and September, but Davis said no.
Smith said he’s planning to fight for Galatolo’s pension of $500,000 per year. The district is currently withholding the pension, but Smith said he will argue that the convictions are unrelated to Galatolo’s performance.
Kudos to DA Wagstaffe
This is why people in Santa Clara County should consider moving to San Mateo County. You can’t even compare how the rule of law is being implemented.
Mr. Wagstaffe’s career is defined by integrity, fair-mindedness, and a refusal to engage in political maneuvering. His dedication to our community is evident throughout his official duties and long-standing public service. Conversely, there are serious concerns regarding the politicization of the District Attorney’s office in San Jose under Jeff Rosen. A troubling example of this is the handling of the Peter Colombo case, where charges were brought based on one unverified, decades-old allegation before being completely dropped due to a lack of evidence. Moving forward with a high-profile prosecution despite an objective insufficiency of evidence suggests that the decision was driven by external political pressure—specifically from activists like Michelle Dauber—rather than a thorough legal evaluation. When a prosecutor initiates charges prematurely or without adequate proof, it points to an office prioritizing public relations and activist appeasement over the constitutional right to due process. Public offices must prioritize blind justice over political calculations.”
Galatolo serves time for a less of crime than the president, and the president walks away. What was that saying in Animal House? “B- – – – – t.”
Glad Galotolo will be punished, but what about Christina Corpus and Victor Aenelle? No charges. No consequences. And when Wagstaffe gets around to charging them, the statute of limitations will have run. O gee, too bad.
Just be glad they’re gone.
Selective prosecution for political aims? I doubt it. If it wasn’t for Eugene Whitlock having the courage of his convictions, Ronny-G might still be bribing contractors and buying his Cohibas at the duty-free shop at Dubai International Airport.