Could Shasta’s elections official actually hire Tina Peters?
The answer is complicated and would involve factors at both the county and statewide levels.
The answer is complicated and would involve factors at both the county and statewide levels.
Curtis said he hopes to hire the former elections official from Colorado, who’s served time for felony election crimes. Peters is considering the offer, her attorney said.
Election employees represented by Teamsters Local 137 have issued a vote of no confidence in Curtis after he responded to his censure with new allegations against staff. Another union representing election employees is expected to issue a vote of no confidence on Monday.
County supervisors censured Curtis on Tuesday. He responded by making new accusations against specific staff to the media. The incident prompted today’s press release, which emphasizes staff’s right to due process while calling out Curtis as having caused harm.
Curtis was formally rebuked by the board for substantiated findings of retaliation against staff, along with verbal abuse and threats of violence. He responded to the censure by sharing new claims against elections staff.
The ruling means Shasta’s elections are slated to be run as usual this fall. The decision is a temporary step in a legal process that will determine whether the new elections law, which was passed by voters in June, is actually legal to implement.
Multiple seats on school district and special district boards are up for grabs in November’s general election, as the deadline to file for candidacy approaches this week.
The measures, estimated to cost $40,000 to $100,000 to place on the ballot, revisit proposals voters rejected two years ago on eminent domain and midterm vacancies.
Records obtained by Shasta Scout document Curtis saying he’s contacted federal officials over “suspect ballots,” which he believes require outside intervention — potentially from the FBI. A little-known gubernatorial candidate is amplifying his claims.
Another hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 7. It’s the next step in determining how Shasta’s general election will be run this November, after county voters approved a ballot initiative slated to overhaul multiple parts of the local election process.