California Code, Government Code - GOV § 24205

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of Section 24204, or any other statute, the office of sheriff shall be filled by election as provided in this chapter for elective county officers, and vacancies shall be filled as provided by law for filling elective county offices, unless the county or city and county is chartered and such charter provides for election of the sheriff by vote of the electors.

(b) In any charter county or city and county, whose charter provides for filling the office of sheriff other than by election by vote of the electors, in conflict with subdivision (c) of Section 4 of Article XI of the California Constitution, the office of sheriff of such charter county or city and county shall be filled as provided in subdivision (a).