Changes Ahead for Shasta County Elections Commission
Three new County Supervisors taking their seats in January will result in some new Shasta County Election Commissioners too. Here’s what the Commission has accomplished so far and what might lie ahead.
For at least two Shasta County Elections Commissioners, today was their last scheduled meeting.
Commissioners Patty Plumb, Brad Garbutt and Mike Michalak were all appointed by County Supervisors whose terms in office end this month, meaning those Commissioners’ terms will also end when new supervisors officially take their seats in a few weeks, on January 6.
The vacancies will leave the Elections Commission briefly in limbo as it waits for new supervisors to select and appoint Commission replacements.
Today, during the Commission’s regular December 16 meeting, Garbutt resigned early after a brief Commissioner report in which he repeated concerns about the advisory group not having accomplished anything, called it a waste of taxpayer funds, and said it should be abolished.
“I quit”, Garbutt then laughingly announced, before striding out of the room.
The small crowd responded with jeers.
“Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out,” one older man wearing a veterans hat yelled.
Had Supervisor Mary Rickert, who appointed Garbutt, won her bid for reelection, the Commission might have been abolished. Instead, with Supervisor-elect Corkey Harmon taking the District 3 seat in January, the advisory group, which has the support so far of not only Harmon but also Supervisors Kevin Crye and Chris Kelstrom, will likely continue. Harmon did not respond to two requests for comment over the last week asking who he intended to appoint as Garbutt’s replacement.
Supervisors-elect Allen Long and Matt Plummer both told Shasta Scout that while they’d like to see the Commission disbanded, they’re ready to choose Commissioners to fill the vacant seats if the rest of the Board wishes to keep the advisory group in place.
Long said he’s unsure so far how he’ll determine who to appoint, saying he might consider retaining Michalak, who was appointed by Long’s predecessor, Supervisor Tim Garman. County Counsel Joseph Larmour and Deputy CEO Stewart Buettell told Shasta Scout today that while Michalak’s term will officially end with Garman’s, he could be reappointed by a majority vote of the Board if nominated for the position by Long.
Matt Plummer says he doesn’t plan to retain Plumb, a member of the secessionist New California State movement, who was appointed by Supervisor Patrick Jones and has led multiple protests against the certification of the November 5 election. Instead, Plummer explained, he’ll hold an open call to solicit new applicants for the Commission position after he takes his seat.
Less than a dozen faithful members of the public continue to attend Elections Commission meetings. They include Supervisor Patrick Jones, failed candidate for supervisor Laura Hobbs, and former Election Commissioner Bev Gray — all of whom participated in a lawsuit earlier this year against the Elections Office. That suit, which alleged “malconduct” by local Elections staff was dismissed by Shasta County Superior Court Judge Baker in June, due to a “profound lack” of evidence.
As Garbutt pointed out today, so far the Elections Commission has not succeeded at changing any elections policy. Instead the group has focused on forming ad hoc committees — groups of two that meet out of the public’s eye to study election-related topics. The Commission has formed a total of 19 ad hoc committees so far. A few have produced recommendations that have been sent to the Board of Supervisors for discussion. The Board has taken no action based on those recommendations.
That lack of results has led some, including former Commissioner Garbutt, to claim that the Commission’s only real impact so far has been to spread disinformation and sow doubt in the local elections process.
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With the majority of the commission being appointed by Crye Jones and kellstrom, all it has done so far is to fuel disproven conspiracy theories. If Corky Harmon is in alignment with Jones then this same result will continue. It should be disbanded. The supervisors have little control over the elections process anyway. If change needs to be made it should be done dealing with the Registrar of voters.
The only way election laws change is a bill sponsored by a legislator that is approved by majority vote then signed into law by Governor. The election commission, Supervisors or ROV have no authority to unilaterally change election laws. The commission should be immediately disbanded before anymore taxpayer dollars are wasted. The commissioners appointed by Crye, Kelstrom and Jones have all violated their oath of office, commission bylaws, the Brown Act and the Rosenberg Rules of Order.
Should a new Election Commission be formed…one item…I move that we Disband, gavel cracks throughout an empty chamber and no more of our precious tax dollars down the drain.
You never did say if the supervisor
Got there raise.
Ross: Supervisors did indeed vote themselves a significant raise earlier this year.