Fact Check: If Shasta Becomes a Charter County Could A Recalled Kevin Crye Choose His Replacement?

The Claim:

“A newly-passed ordinance that places the issue of whether to form a charter county before voters in March 2024 could allow Kevin Crye to help choose his own replacement if he is recalled.”

When/Where:

During November Board of Supervisors meetings, community members expressed this concern about Shasta’s potential path toward becoming a charter county. In response, Supervisor Kevin Crye has repeatedly stated to the public and confirmed publicly via Deputy County Executive Officer Stuart Buettell that the ordinance will not go into effect until 2025, meaning it should have no impact on how Crye’s replacement is chosen if he is recalled.

Context:

Shasta County is currently a general law county. In March 2024, voters will decide whether to make Shasta County a charter county.

Board members voted this week, on November 7, to send the issue of whether Shasta should become a charter county to the voters in March 2024. The proposed charter for Shasta County was developed by staff with the sponsorship of Supervisor Kevin Crye and includes specific instruction around a single issue: how a replacement will be chosen for the county board if one of their members is recalled.

That’s unnerving to some because voters will also use their March 5 vote to decide whether to recall, or decline to recall, Kevin Crye. They worry that the charter if passed, could allow Crye to choose his own replacement.

Our Analysis:

The statement that Crye could play a role in choosing his own replacement if he were recalled and the charter county ordinance is also approved, is false.

If Crye is recalled, that recall would become effective once the vote count is finalized, meaning Crye will no longer be able to make decisions as a Shasta County Supervisor after that date. County officials must finalize official results 30 days after the election and the results must be certified by the Secretary of State 38 days after the election.

Shasta Scout has also verified with county staff that Governor Gavin Newsom could still appoint Supervisor Crye’s replacement up to January 1, 2025 if the charter is approved. County spokesperson Maung wrote by email that “Even if the Ordinance is approved in March 2024, is ‘in full force and effect,’ the Governor would still have authority to appoint a replacement on the Board of Supervisors, if there’s a vacancy, up to and until January 1, 2025. The authority would then fall back to the seated members of the Board of Supervisors, as described in the Ordinance.”

Here’s What Else You Should Know:

According to the wording of the ordinance which was brought to the supervisors by Crye, Shasta County’s charter would include two options for how a replacement supervisor could be appointed. Board members could vote to appoint a new board member themselves or to call a special election so a new supervisor could be chosen by Shasta County residents. A press release about the charter also mentions a third possible option, leaving the seat vacant until the next election, as the default if the board does not vote to take any action.

For more information about what the difference between general law and a charter county is we have embedded the presentation given to the Board of Supervisors on September 26 by the California State Association of Counties.

If you’ve heard a statement in public meetings that you’d like to see fact-checked, let us know. Email: editor@shastascout.org