‘I Don’t Get The Feeling You Are Remorseful’: Judge Rebukes Former SMC College Chancellor

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A judge questioned former San Mateo County Community College District Chancellor Ronald Dario Galatolo’s remorse while rejecting his efforts to secure a new trial or have his eight felony convictions reduced to misdemeanors.

“I don’t get the feeling you are remorseful,” the judge said during Galatolo’s July 31 sentencing, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. “You showed, at your core, your readiness and willingness to cheat and lie.”

The comments came as the judge denied two defense motions, one seeking a new trial and another asking that Galatolo’s felony convictions be reduced to misdemeanors.

A jury found Galatolo guilty of eight felonies in January following a yearslong public corruption investigation involving the San Mateo County Community College District.

Galatolo was sentenced to eight months in jail and two years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service in a Latino community and pay restitution.

The case dates to April 2019, when the District Attorney’s Office received a whistleblower complaint of public corruption involving members of the district’s executive leadership.

Galatolo served as chancellor of the district from 2001 until stepping down in August 2019. The district operates Cañada College, College of San Mateo and Skyline College.

Prosecutors said Galatolo reported a $10,000 charitable contribution to the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation Fire Relief Fund on his 2017 state income tax return even though the donation had been made by the San Mateo County Community College District Foundation.

Prosecutors also said Galatolo failed to disclose numerous valuable gifts from construction firms doing business with the district on required annual financial disclosure forms. The gifts included tickets to concerts and sporting events and international travel.

Another part of the case involved high-end and classic cars. Prosecutors said Galatolo underreported their purchase prices to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Former district Vice Chancellor of Facilities Jose Nunez was also charged as part of the broader investigation. Nunez pleaded guilty in January 2022 to two felony counts of using school funds for political purposes, according to prosecutors.