An activist behind Measure B works for the Shasta election office. Her role is raising concern
After leading an effort to gather thousands of signatures in support of the petition that led to Measure B, Laura Hobbs was hired as an analyst by Shasta’s election office late last year. Her involvement with decisions related to the measure as part of her professional role appears to violate county policy. A misstep in the process may have also violated state law.
A Shasta election staffer’s involvement with Measure B is raising concern.
Laura Hobbs has donated more than $1000 this calendar year in support of Measure B, which will appear before voters in the upcoming June election. She’s one of five activists behind a controversial initiative that could amend Shasta’s charter to implement a slew of changes to voting across the county.
She’s also a newly-hired analyst for the Shasta Election Office. In that role, she’s been involved with some of the specifics impacting how the measure will appear before voters in June. It’s a situation that may run afoul of state conflict of interest laws and appears to violate county policy regarding involvement by public employees in decisions where there’s a financial interest.
So far, that doesn’t concern Shasta County Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis and Assistant Registrar of Voters Brent Turner. While both admitted yesterday that it’s a situation with poor optics, they also emphasized their ongoing trust in Hobbs’ impartiality.
That’s not true for some members of the public. The controversial ballot measure has already prompted an unsuccessful pre-election legal challenge. Now concerns are being raised about Hobbs’ involvement in decisions related to the ballot measure as part of her new professional role.
Cork McGowan, a local Shasta County voter concerned about Measure B, says he showed up in the election office in March in hopes of filing an argument against it, something he coordinated for a group of opponents to the measure. Arguments for and against local ballot measures are routinely submitted in the lead up to each election. One argument for and one against, as well as rebuttals to each — if submitted — are selected by election staff for inclusion in voter guides, under rules outlined in state law.
Since then, the argument McGowan submitted against Measure B has been selected for inclusion in Shasta voter guides. But the process of engaging in the civic initiative process was not without incident, he said, describing what he sees as an inappropriate level of involvement by Hobbs.
Hobbs contacted him three times during his submission process, McGowan said. First to accept the submission of his amended argument against the measure, then in an attempt to oversee the word count check of his argument, and finally to confirm the name of one of the signatures submitted on his rebuttal.
“Something’s fishy. It doesn’t pass the smell test,” he told Shasta Scout by phone yesterday, in reference to Hobbs’ ongoing interactions with him about his argument against the measure she holds dear. Hobbs has not responded to a request for comment.
His concern about her involvement was heightened, McGowan said, when the election office failed to provide him with the argument for Measure B in time for him to submit his rebuttal before the deadline, a mistake that appears to have violated state law. That law requires election officials to provide arguments submitted by proponents and opponents to the opposing parties, in order to allow for rebuttals to be filed in time for inclusion in voter guides.
The deadline for rebuttals to be filed was March 21. Having not yet received a copy of the argument for Measure A in order to formulate his rebuttal, McGowan said, he went to the election office in person on March 24. There he alleges, he and a fellow opponent of Measure B argued with staff about California law while insisting that they be allowed to file a rebuttal despite the deadline having passed. The communication specialist speaking with them said they would not be allowed to do so, McGowan claims.
Then, two days later, McGowan received an email providing him with a copy of the argument for Measure B with instructions on the rebuttal process. The email, which was provided to Shasta Scout, was sent to McGowan on March 26 just before 2 p.m. — five days after the deadline for rebuttal arguments had passed. The email offered him until no later than Monday the 30th to submit his rebuttal argument, nine days after the original deadline.
“Which I did,” McGowan said. He noted that while he was the primary coordinator of both the argument against Measure B and the rebuttal to proponents, he worked with a number of other community members to draft and approve the documents for submission — saying their names will appear with both the argument and the rebuttal in the voter guide.
Had he not argued for his right to submit a rebuttal despite the county’s failure to notify him, he noted, voters would not have had access to the the full range of information that California law permits as part of the voter guide.
In the aftermath of the chaotic process, McGowan said he wanted to ensure the election office had an opportunity to address the issues that arose during his submission of arguments related to Measure B. He contacted Shasta’s chief election official yesterday with a formal expression of his concern.
In response, Curtis wrote that another staffer had taken over Measure B tasks to address the optics of Hobbs’ involvement. He added that he is certain she would not have done anything out of line.
“I watch everyone carefully,” Curtis said.
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
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Prior to the 2022 elections The Center for Tech and Civic Life (Mark Zuckerberg) offered $400 million to different entities to sway elections in a liberal direction. Shasta County was offered $1.5 million that was not accepted by the Shasta County Supervisors instead a counter offer was made. By a 3/2 vote the BOS made a counter offer they would accept $1.5 million only to build/purchase new office space for the ROV.
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Annelise, thank you.
Dishonest Nick, I’m so going to enjoy proving you wrong when I have the time to post.
I was going to compose something to call Nick out, but Annalise already provided the link to a full article.
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For anyone who is genuinely interested in truth, please read the article.
For credibility—use your name
Oh no, Nick is questioning my credibility. Whatever will I do?! I better let everyone immediately know who I am otherwise I just won’t be credible…
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On second thought, Nah. Not gonna.
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You can call me ‘in-Credible Grouchy’ if you need a name.
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Any independent thinker honestly seeking the truth can look up the public info for themselves and also read the links that were provided to see that one of us is speaking the truth.
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And it sure isn’t you.
I have worked as an election poll worker for nearly 20 years. I have been to a training meeting for every election I’ve worked. I never saw even a hint of Cathy Darling Allen’s or Joanna Francescutt’s personal political beliefs. They were always professional. They knew and followed the state guidelines. Whether we like those guidelines in Shasta County is obviously up for debate. However, the office of county clerk is a NONPARTISAN elected position. Somehow that has been forgotten.
I must have missed the reason…But why did KCNR’s Carl Bott boot Nick Gardners “Poke the hornets nest ” and Kevin Crys show out ?
Carl Bott was a real gentleman about us leaving, but, actuality there was a lot more money involved by going to KQMS. Very favorable for me.
Oh yea? KQMS costs Freedom In Action radio show 2000 dollars a month. How can you, washing windows for a living, afford ur “poke the hornets nest” show?
Window cleaning is not my only source of income.
What I like is how Mr Turner is such a narcissist that he thinks that he is being impressive with his communication. The truth is that he just keeps commenting and making himself look worse with every word.
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And then to top it off, there’s his shameless self-promotion to go watch some type of video about him…
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Nope, not a narcissist at all.
Yes, some have criticized me for associating with former CIA Director Woolsey but I found him to be a great partner for the promotion of transparent voting software. I am from a showbiz background ( as a youth ) and must confess I got a kick out of being featured in an award winning documentary.
Some also criticize me for chiming in on these threads but I enjoy speaking to the public and I often enjoy reading the Shasta Scout
I believe the voters in Shasta County want education regarding best election system software practices and available solutions. That is why I continue to mention therealactivistmovie.com
True to form.
Narcissists are gonna be narcissistic.
Brent Turner, you’re doing great! I fully encourage you to keep going with your comments.
You’re moving that election needle, and having an impact on the voters.
Yes. Please watch the tutorial documentary and give your thoughts. I’m sure you will find it enlightening and hopefully entertaining enough to make it through the whole 30 minutes !! Open source software solutions to election security issues is “ dry but doable “
Nah, it’s not worth my time to watch something where you are just patting yourself on the back.
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But please, Moar commentary. You sir, know how to persuade the people, and I am in awe of how you are winning them over.
Nick Gardner,
Our organization, AMA Veterans support group out of Tennessee will be collecting cash donations here in Shasta County next week and desire to be on your “Poke The Hornet’s Nest” radio show. Also certainly interested to be included in elderly folks “Living Trusts” to support Veterans in Tennessee. Our leader, Major Woody is very interested in meeting you, and we are sure you will support us and local homeless veterans in the great state of Tennessee! Date to be announced!
I like it. The best satire has a patina of truthiness to it.
The issues and debates will be resolved on 06-02-2026 with the results from the primary election. The current county clerk and registrar of voters, Mr. Clint Curtis, will be removed from office by a stunningly large point spread. That removal will happened whether he has done right or done wrong.
Unless Curtis and minions stop counting at a certain point in his favor, thah’ts what we, the citizen observers, have to be ready for.
To ensure your votes are counted, be sure to sign up for ballot tracking. Instructions will be in your voter guide. Opt in for email, text and phone call notifications. My wife never got notified her ballot was received and counted in last election even though I personally delivered both of our ballots to a polling place on Election Day. Both of us are signed up for ballot tracking. And that was a very simple and easy election so not sure how things got fouled up.
Thanks to great recent effort there are now protocols and procedures in place to ALLOW public participation and ASSURE appropriate security to prevent against the cessation or other manipulation of the voting process. As we are investigators and solution providers the current ROV office is setting precedent for the entire state by developing best security practices previously absent!! Thanks for your dedication to Democracy!!
Slow clap.
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Brent Turner everyone! Please give him a round of applause for fixing that which was never broken.
Is this Joanna ?
How long Shasta County? How long are we going to allow this circus to continue? The unqualified fabulist ROV has hired the local fact-free election deniers to run elections. The assistant head fabulist has nothing better to do than hang out in comment threads and spout word salad nonsense. Stop the madness. Elect the person who should have gotten the job to start with and turn out Kelstrom and Crye-baby.
Selah
Normally, I don’t respond to folks that are afraid to use their real names. As a civil rights activist, I always use my real name and encouraged others to do the same. Regarding word salads, please see the documentary, The Real Activist on Amazon prime. One way out of this mess is via education.
Civil Rights Activist ? Does that mean you’ve attended at least two protest rallies in San Francisco, you’re commuter home ?
Hey Frank. How much civil rights actions and legislation does one have to accomplish to meet your test ? My “mom” – Mrs. Medgar Evers – deemed my work strong enough .. but perhaps you have another test
What ideas have you brought forward to stabilize our local elections or the general democracy? I’ve been working toward open source voting systems pro bono internationally as well as nationally for twenty plus years ..
You ?
Rather than criticize what you may likely not understand regarding election security please consider joining us a volunteer!! You can learn while you help !!
Hey Frank. I’ve heard about your troubled history but I have never heard of you. Please list some – or one – accomplishment so I can look you up. For mine, you can look at Open Voting Consortium- or just google me – starting in 2004. We did the heavy lifting for the 2.0 Voting systems operating on open source that are now deployed in the United States. Though some of your buddies might not want to see it because I’m in it – Google The Real Activist movie
LMAO
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You really can’t help yourself, can you?
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Doing great Mr T! Keep commenting and you’ll have the people of Shasta County in your corner in no time at all.
“Normally, I don’t respond to folks that are afraid to use their real names.”
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Well, that most certainly isn’t true. You’ve already responded to a couple of “no names” more than a few times, and you just keep on doing it too.
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“As a civil rights activist, I always use my real name and encouraged others to do the same.”
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Well ain’t that grand. We all know that you have mentioned that you’re a so-called “civil rights activist” many times. As has been mentioned previously by other people, people with narcissism can’t really help but try to promote themselves in some fashion or another. Like with your “film”.
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Call it what you will, I really just don’t think you like when people are speaking truth to power.
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Trying to discredit people because they don’t post their “real” names is more of a personal attack and doesn’t address valid points that they make.
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Btw, my name is Jolly Roger. The one and only. 😝
Shocking. Seems you devote more time to commenting here, than you do your own taxpayer funded job.
Why are you people so afraid of a transparent election?
There you go again, making false accusations without a shred of proof.
Why are you election deniers still hanging onto claims of mass voter fraud in Shasta County when there STILL not a shred of evil that it ever happened?
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Surely Mr Curtis would have found real proof of it by now and be transparent about it?
I’ve never claimed voter fraud, just a major lack of transparency.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
AHAHAHAHAHAHA
C’mon, Nick. Who do you think you’re fooling?
No one believes that!
Nick, The whole reason your election deny our group is complaining about transparency is because there is the implication there’s some type of fraud or malfeasance going on. Period.
The social experiment that created the Market Street Miracle now reverberates with the hallowed halls of Court St. From the rubble left behind by the previous administration rises a more transparent system within a more hospitable office environment
Cork was completely accommodated and it is unlikely the assertion or allegation of state law violations would b recognized. Elections code is clear the time frames are at the ROV discretion
Putting people of different political ideologies together to assist elections is healthy People of all political backgrounds tend to honor Uncle Sam over all. That being said the good people of Shasta are well served by a highly functional current election administration-
Brent says: “Putting people of different political ideologies together to assist elections is healthy (sic) People of all political backgrounds tend to honor Uncle Sam over all (sic).”
Unless they’re MAGA, in which case they reject the results of elections they lose, intimidate and threaten election officials, storm the US Capital Building to chase off the Congressional certifiers of election results, concoct wildly paranoid “just so” stories about fraud by voters and election officials, fan the flames of election distrust without providing any actual evidence of wrongdoing, and do everything they can to disenfranchise voters not politically aligned with their cultish beliefs.
Market Street Miracle? C’mon Brent, as I believe Lyndon Johnson said; “You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig”. Just keep making up stuff, OK?
#QUAKKK
Aren’t you the clever-tongued words smith, Mr Turner. Hallowed halls and rubble are metaphors of a lofty rhetoric signifying nothing, which is precisely what you personally know about my administration. You’re completely reliant on the bitter complaints of these serpents Mr. Curtis has invited into the office to claim a veneer of transparency. Mark my words, their venom will inflict law suits and state or legislative intervention that will not serve the citizens of this county.
You and your boss’s continual disparagement of me and of Joanna Francescut are unfounded. Merely repeating allegations is not proof. Put up or shut up. Maybe then the gracious folk of Shasta County will let you carpet baggers depart quietly after the dust settles in June.
Tom, thank you for weighing in on this.
Thanks for your comment Tom . If you would like to speak about election processes and election system security I propose you and I schedule an informational event for the public to witness. It would be fun to discuss national security issues and other county and state issues including previous Shasta County elections and personalities. Let’s do a symposium where we can compare ideas !! I am looking forward hearing your thoughts regarding the Darling / Joanna involvement with the 300 million dollar L.A voting system debacle as well as your thoughts regarding the allegations of their vote tampering. Let me know if you feel like doing a public event anytime !!
Brent, your office is at E56 for not one, but TWO elections, and the Shasta County elections department is currently out of compliance on several points of readiness for those June 2nd elections. How about instead of trying to grab more headlines and personal air time, you do Shasta County voters a solid by buckling down, and gaining knowledge of election processes, so that these elections can be administered with at least a modicum of public confidence in the outcomes? As of April 7th, there are no written plans or instructions for whatever training and actual election administration activities are planned for the June election. The way the training schedule is being coordinated is inconsistent with basic evidence-based procedures consistent with maximizing short-term learning and successful implementation of whatever new processes Clint Curtis is imagining for the election.
Either you don’t know how to spell your own last name, or this is a troll account.
An ego-tripping, “pi**ing contest! How grand! How lofty! How embarrassing for Shasta County voters.
True that.
Thanks Tom for speaking truth to lies. The election denier crowd is still blaming you and Joanna for the Runbeck overspray issue which was not either of yours fault. When I spoke with you about it prior to serving on the Election Commission, you explained the ballots provided for the test run were a different batch than those mailed to voters, is that correct?
Well said, Tom.
Thank you.
If by Miracle you are meaning it’s a miracle all the experienced workers haven’t left then yes it’s a miracle. If you are meaning that the election was run then I think you had better thank those experienced workers as you and Mr. Curtis did nothing to help. I don’t know how the election workers aren’t all insane with all the B S that gets shouted out by people who know nothing about elections.
Mr. Turner it’s laughable that you comment on morale and the function of a department you are never present for. The department is the most toxic and despicable environment, especially with the threats the ROV makes to an abundance of people in the County.
Stop talking about transparency when you lie every time you open your mouth or type a comment.
It’s funny how you disrespect the previous administration with no facts or evidence to support such rhetoric.
Which election codes do you claim you followed????
I also don’t think you have any clue how tone deaf it is in this community to use the words “miracale” and “Market Street” in the same sentence within the context you continue promulgating them. Doing so would take a degree of integration into our community you have clearly missed in your 9ish months on the job.
You mean the handful of days he bothered to show to the office? Pitiful that he is earning so much for so little….9ish months of pay and what maybe a month of badging in and not even working.. just showing face and spouting nonsense.
True that. Took some digging, but we discovered Brent has rarely been to Redding to work, and did not even have VPN access on his devices until January of this year.
Isn’t it wonderful what a PRA can reveal about some officials?
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I think the other question that needs to be asked is if he holds another job. My understanding is that prior to becoming the assistant ROV he was a realtor. Is that still going on?
Brent, of course you’d say that the election dept. is run by a highly functional office, you’re paid to say that ! Thanks to the remaining experienced staff. What in the H are you talking about, the Hallowed halls of Court St and the social experiment of Market St, another attack and defamation of characters by you and your overseer, You’re lucky you two aren’t being sued by the former ROV & assistant, keep saying stupid things and you might be, as you prepare to go back to San Francisco. What you call accommodation is way off the facts as presented in the article. Discretion of the ROV is exactly the problem. So be ready for Dept of Justice officals and SOS observers going over everything you call ‘discretion’. And be be ready for the general public watching you and your hand picked staff.
I completely agree. I look forward to working with this amazing team in the next election.
Oooookay Patty… I mean “Babs”…
Whatever you say.
Great reporting as always, Annelise. This conflict of interest has been such an obvious problem, and it’s incredible to me that neither Clint Curtis, nor county counsel, nor a single member of the Board of Supervisors seems to have addressed this issue.
Ditto for Patty Plumb, another Measure B proponent working in the office, currently coordinating all the poll workers. Patty and her husband Ron are also financial supporters of election-related activities which comprise a seeming conflict of interest.
Cork McGowan’s experience in attempting to coordinate a rebuttal response to Measure B, whereby deadlines were missed internally by Clint Curtis’ hand-picked and completely inexperienced acolytes, seems to be more of a feature than a bug under this ROV’s leadership. Multiple state reports have been late due to Curtis’ lack of knowledge of state deadlines, and his lack of understanding of how to operate some of the apps and systems which manage information for our elections. (Are we EVER going to have some equality converstion in this community about how a guy who can barely get logged into key election systems, or barely even attach a document to an email, somehow “programmed” software to cheat elections back in the day? You know, one of the primary reasons he was even hired here in the first place?)
Neither is Laura Hobbs’ overreach in some of her work duties merely incidental. The multiple and seemingly extra-contextual queries to Cork McGowan are just one instance. There are anecdotal reports and PRA submissions which can/will confirm Hobbs reaching out to candidates inappropriately during the campaign filing period, and improperly handling documents through that process.
All of this is frustrating for the very obvious reasons– ethical conduct in county business, proper use of staffing and county funds, and more. One of my personal frustrations is we now have county administration, through its board of supervisors and other administators attempting to put out fires which have resulted from the incredibly poor selection of Clint Curtis as ROV. He has become a political, fisccal, and legal liability to the county, and now county leaders are attempting to address symptoms (e.g., ‘too many PRAs, too many people at public comment, too little community volunteering for elections) of Curtis’ lack of experience and poor leadership instead of addressing the fact that Curtis’ appointment has caused all this chaos.
Some of these problems will not go away when Clint Curtis is defeated in the election in June, because Clint Curtis is but a symptom of much larger leadership problems, rooted in the board of supervisors itself.
People with political persuasions work for elections depts all over the country This is a an interesting conversation but it should be analyzed without hysteria or mis characterization. Anyone casting aspersions toward Shasta election worker integrity must prove up …
Wrong. Curtis has hired people to work for him who are election-denial activists. Hobbs, Gallego, and their ilk viciously smeared the former ROV, the interim ROV, and their staff—accusations that had zero substance unlike Curtis and your demonstrable screw-ups. Now we’re supposed to refrain from casting aspersions? Go take a flying f*** at a rolling donut.
Charming donut reference !! Yes with education we can all come together for safe and secure elections
They were safe, secure and trustworthy, until you and Lindell’s buddy Clint showed up.
Anyone casting aspersions toward Shasta election worker integrity must prove up … “ Brent, you may want to let your boss know that. Curtis has made countless false allegations of misconduct against current and former elections staff with zero evidence. He has even lied about what he has (hasn’t) reported and to whom.
There is a paper trail miles long of every issue I’ve raised, Brent. You know that. Or at least maybe you would if you were really working the job for which you’re being paid.
Susanne, would you like to have a sit down with Clint Curtis and discuss your concerns?
I can arrange it with Mountaintop Media on “Poke The Hornet’s Nest”—Yeah, I didn’t think so!
Nick
Hi Nick. I would be glad to have a sit-down with Mr. Curtis. Feel free to email me at susanne.baremore@gmail.com and we can make arrangements.
For the record – we have spoken at length to Ms. Baremore in person regarding open source software and the need for transparency. Unfortunately, after having cars vandalized and Registrar Curtis reported death threats there has obviously been a bit of distance required
Mr.Turner, Your insinuation that Ms. Baremore has made death threats against a public official is a very serious one. Making such threats would be a crime. Have there been reports made to law enforcement? So far I’ve not received any evidence of these kinds of allegations being true. A police report would suffice.
Brent says: “Unfortunately, after having cars vandalized and Registrar Curtis reported death threats there has obviously been a bit of distance required.”
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There it is. The weird paranoia married to unsubstantiated assignment of blame.
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Okay, since you opened the door, I’m going tit-for-tat. The death threats (if they happened at all, and I doubt it) were a false-flag operation. The calls are coming from inside the house.
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Go ahead and deny that your statement isn’t a direct accusation of Ms. Baremore issuing death threats, thus the need for distance from her in particular. Up above, you propose a public symposium with Tom Toller. Apparently Mr. Toller and everyone who would attend the symposium (except Baremore) have been cleared of making threats and aren’t subject to needed distancing. So what’s your evidence against Baremore?
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Man, you conspiracy theorists really have trouble forming your delusional, paranoid musings into coherent packages.
Brent, you know FULL WELL the reports of vandalism to Clint’s vehicle(s) were not made to any local authorities (there are PRAs proving this), and that the only reports made at all by your office with regard to vandalism were made by a manager in your office on 5/14/25 (two full months prior to your employment with the county). In a PRA submitted to RPD, I obtained police report RPD25L-035465 which states in part that two MALES were described as the suspects. Last I checked, I am not biologically male, nor do I identify as such.
With regard to the fliers about Clint which could be construed as violent messaging, the group Shasta Exposed took responsibility. I have ZERO affiliations with Shasta Exposed, and you probably know that.
The only distance between the three of us seems to have to do with the fact that every time either you or Clint say something untruthful or inaccurate in public, I have been right there to produce paper trails to disspel your nonsense. During the last election, I had to threaten legal action in order to get Clint to consent to allow viewing of ballot adjudication, which is observable under law. I then had to school you on the law as to why there will ALWAYS be adjudication of ballots under California law. Literally, I had to quote the law to you and your boss to keep you compliant in that one small component of election administration, and to preserve the rights of the community to view the process.
Another fun fact, not only did I not threaten either of you, Clint actually threatened to sue *me*, when I learned of the harassment allegations against him by various county employees (not just in your department). “I’m an attorney and I sue people!” he said. He then demanded to know which employees had made allegations against him. When I refused to tell him, he told me, “I’ll find out who it is, and I’ll CREAM YOU BOTH!” That sounds far more threatening to me than anything I’ve ever said to either of the two of you.
With regard to the allegations against Clint there is a memo to Clint from another county department sustaining these allegations, which he obliquely addressed on KQMS in January. While I do not have a copy of the memo, I have a PRA trail which proves its existence.
I do not know if you remember this or not, but during the counting of ballots post-election day, you got in my face and told me, “You don’t have the chops for this!” in a very threatening manner– in front of another public official and members of the public.
So, you may wish to re-evaluate your claims of ‘threats’ from me. It really is time to focus on your jobs as leaders in the Clerk’s office. The public expects you to follow the law and to do your job competently. In the aggregate, the community does not have confidence in either from the two of you.
Don’t hold your breath, Susanne. Though, I could be wrong—Curtis prefers preaching to the crowd, and Mountaintop Media certainly qualifies as a MAGA echo chamber.
Not holding my breath for any of these dudes. Nick Gardner has referred to me as “that fat chick” on his radio show. I think it highly unlikely he would actually reach out to me with any sincerity. Clint Curtis knows I have a list of questions for him as long as my arm that he would prefer not to answer on a podcast.
I’m just here calling their bluffs. 🙂
I have a go on it so give me a couple of dates and times that work for you in a couple 2 or 3 weeks
Nick
These MAGA bots have fully embraced Trumps Big Lie and his attempt to rob 81 million Americans of our votes with his fake electors scheme and his attack on OUR Capitol and we can count on them to be equally corrupt and untrustworthy as is Trump.
A MANDATE FOR STRUCTURAL REFORM IN SHASTA COUNTY’S ELECTIONS OFFICE
Public trust in election administration is not self-sustaining; it must be continuously reinforced through transparency, neutrality, and strict adherence to law. In Shasta County, a convergence of legal disputes, public controversy, and institutional concerns has placed the Office of the County Clerk/Registrar under an unprecedented level of scrutiny. These conditions do not call for incremental adjustments—they call for comprehensive structural reform. IF ELECTED, JOANNA FRANCESCUT SHOULD GIVE SERIOUS AND IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION TO A FULL REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Reorganization, in this context, is not a political act but an administrative necessity. California law vests department heads with authority to manage personnel and operations, subject to civil service rules, collective bargaining agreements, and due-process requirements. Exercised properly, this authority allows for the realignment of roles, reassignment of personnel, and restructuring of internal reporting systems to ensure compliance with the California Elections Code, the Political Reform Act, and county policies governing the use of public resources. The goal is not disruption for its own sake, but restoration of lawful, professional administration.
Central to any lawful reorganization is the principle of institutional neutrality. The elections office must function as a ministerial body, not as a forum for advocacy or policy experimentation. Where circumstances create actual or perceived conflicts of interest—whether through overlapping roles, external affiliations, or participation in ballot-related activities—those conflicts must be addressed through clear administrative separation, recusal protocols, and, where necessary, personnel action supported by documented cause. This is not punitive; it is required to preserve due process and equal protection under the law.
Importantly, a full reorganization does not equate to indiscriminate termination. California employment law requires that any adverse action against county employees be grounded in just cause, supported by evidence, and implemented through established procedures, including notice and the opportunity to respond. However, reorganization can lawfully include reclassification of positions, reassignment of duties, and the elimination of structural vulnerabilities that expose the county to legal or reputational risk. When properly executed, such measures strengthen both the institution and the protections afforded to its employees.
A comprehensive restructuring should also include the adoption of formal compliance mechanisms: internal audit protocols, enhanced training on election law and ethics, and clearly defined boundaries governing political activity and public communications. Coordination with the Shasta County Board of Supervisors and, where appropriate, independent review bodies, would further ensure that reforms are transparent, legally sound, and publicly credible. These steps are consistent with best practices in public administration and are essential when confidence in an institution has been strained.
Ultimately, leadership in this moment requires clarity and resolve. IF ENTRUSTED WITH THE OFFICE, JOANNA FRANCESCUT WOULD INHERIT NOT ONLY ITS AUTHORITY BUT ITS CHALLENGES. A DECISIVE, LEGALLY COMPLIANT REORGANIZATION WOULD SIGNAL A COMMITMENT TO RESTORING PROFESSIONALISM, SAFEGUARDING NEUTRALITY, AND UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW. IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PUBLIC TRUST HAS BEEN TESTED, STRUCTURAL REFORM IS NOT MERELY AN OPTION—IT IS AN OBLIGATION.
There is no mandate, Chriss. The voters want something but it sure isn’t a mandate that you’ve made up.
If Curtis was watching everyone carefully, this obvious conflict of interest should not have occurred. He has allowed (even encouraged) this situation with Hobbs to fester, and that is enough to show he is not honest or doesn’t know what he is doing or both.
Vote Measure B DOWN and Curtis OUT.
I still can’t get over the idea that an obviously illegal proposition has made it on the ballot where, if it wins will instantly be tied up in (very expensive) litigation. I can’t help but wonder: what if I made it through all the steps to place on the ballot a proposition indicating that persons with, say, over 5 million in assets were exempt from prosecution if they committed pedophile acts? That is obviously illegal, but would it still be on the ballot and open for voters to decide? (I hope not, but…).
Don’t be giving XX any “brite idears” Bro!!!
Over 10,000 people signed to get this on the ballot. Who are you to say it should not be on the ballot? You say it’s illegal, they say it is. Let the legal process play out. I don’t care how much it costs, I want honest, transparent, elections. Joanna had her chance and didn’t come through.
Nick, it seems that even Laura Hobbs has admitted that parts of Prob B are illegal.
Did Joanna admit to lying to the Board of Supervisors about the Zuckerberg money and saying they hadn’t received it when they had?
Answer: NO, because it did not happen. But, nice deflection attempt. Here’s one in return: Release the Operation Epstein files. All of them. Let the voters decide. All of them.
You’ve been called out on this before.
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Not a penny of that money was spent that wasn’t approved by a 4/5 majority of the board.
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Not
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One
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Cent.
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This is public record and anyone can watch the recording of the board meeting or read the minutes to see that what I’m saying is true.
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Public record, Nik.
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You’re right, someone is being dishonest here. But it sure isn’t Joanna F.
Lol, well if you wanted on a selections, you sure got the wrong guy hired!! 🤣
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Lmao, Clint Curtis “honest and transparent”.
Joanna lied about receiving the Zuck money 3 times, claiming they had not received it, while Patric Jones was chair.
How is that possible when the terms of the grant specified that it needed board approval before any monies were received?
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Again, public info Nik.
So let me ask you Nick what was the date that the board voted on the spending plan? And what was the date that the money was received?
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Any guesses?
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Again, public info.
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Consider this a direct challenge for you to prove me wrong. Go ahead, give it your best shot.
And who is Laura Hobbs anyway? She arrived in Shasta County a few years back and immediately began her career as a prominent election denier. She claims to have a PhD in microbiology, but has never worked in the field, saying that instead she decided to be a stay at home mom. Just try to find out anything about her via the internet. There’s nothing. Nothing about her graduating, nothing about her doctoral thesis, and no other mention of her. It’s very strange. Now she is working for Clint Curtis in the elections office and paid by out taxpayer dollars via Shasta County.
I thought she was housing Curtis at the beginning when he relocated to Shasta County. That would have been the plan all along.
He was living with Patty Plumb and her husband.
Patty Plumb, you mean the one who thinks we have local citizens who are really lizard people, that Patty ? She’s also the one who thinks only males who are circumcised are patriots, be ready for her to gather signatures for a ballot measure that states only cirumcised males can run for office.
Hobbs does have a Ph.D. from UC Riverside. She was housed in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology. She published circa 2006-2012, generally as a secondary author (probably a lab assistant) and a couple of papers as primary author (likely from her dissertation research). Her academic bona fides were authentic. Lots of academics are a little loony, and some go completely off the rails (e.g., The Unabomber).
She published under the name Laura L. Presley. I don’t know if that’s her birth name, or the product of a previous marriage.
Interesting to know. Thank you.
Not a problem. I have formal training in research skills myself and know my way around the bases in academia. She wasn’t that hard to chase down.
Hobbs is using a portion of her salary from her job at the Registrar’s office to help fund the campaign for an initiative that she helped put on the ballot, she’s running interference against the participation of the initiative’s opponents, and she’ll be partly responsible for tallying the result come election time.
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Move along. Nothing to see here.
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Hobbs might want to ask Tina Peters if being a MAGA election-interfering crank is worth it.
Nine years . . . (whistlin whilst I walk away now) . . . #LMAO AGAIN!!!