City Council Pushes Back on Estimated Cost Of Hand Counting Future Redding Election Ballots
Shasta County’s recall politics rose to the surface during the Council’s discussion of whether to send a letter over election costs.
At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Redding City Council members Julie Winter and Mark Mezzano presented a draft letter to be sent to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors in response to an increase in estimated election costs. Those costs are based on a report by Shasta County Clerk Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen, in response to the the county’s plan to hand count future election ballots rather than use machine tabulation.
The decision to hand count future elections and not use machine ballot counting methods could increase the city’s cost by a “staggering 380%” or from about $47,000 to almost $177,000 for each general election. That cost increase is based on the number of ballots cast in the November 2022 general election and the costs for hand counting, as estimated by Darling Allen.
During the council’s discussion about the letter Mayor Michael Dacquisto noted his opposition to sending it on the grounds that it could be seen as supporting the efforts to recall Kevin Crye, a county supervisor who has helped spearhead hand counting for elections.
Dacquisto also noted that if AB 969 is signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the county won’t be able to hand count votes anyway. AB 969, a bill that would no longer allow hand counting in California counties with more than 1,000 registered voters, has already passed the California House and Senate and is currently awaiting Newsom’s signature.
But Council member Jack Munns disagreed, advocating for even stronger wording in the letter, and saying that even if Newsom signs AB 969 some county supervisors have indicated they’re likely to fight the new law. He also noted that he doesn’t have “a dog in that fight” regarding the recall efforts and doesn’t see the connection between the letter and the recall.
Both Dacquisto and fellow Council member Mark Mezzano also questioned the cost estimates used in the letter, noting that not all community members support Darling Allen’s analysis of election costs.
But, when asked, City Manager Barry Tippin noted that he was not aware of any alternative cost estimates to the extensive document prepared by Darling Allen other than public comments made by failed county-CEO applicant, Chriss Street.
The council eventually approved sending the letter to the Board, three to two, with Dacquisto and Mezzano opposing it. Before the vote, Mayor Dacquisto stated that he would not be a signatory on the letter if it is sent, and someone else would need to be selected to do so.
You can find the full text of the letter below.
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I was completely dumbfounded when the Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted to cancel the services of the existing contract for voting machines. As I stated in my letter to the Board of Supervisors at the time, “Why did you think that the votes you received that allowed you to take your office were correct, since they were counted on voting machines? It seems that the right leaning supervisors were just followers of the coup crowd, subjecting their constituents to follow their philosophy, whether we liked it or not and the cost of hand counting be damned. I’m sorry to learn that Mayor Dacquisto as well as council member Mezzano are just pandering to the same right-wing crowd.
Thank you for sharing Judith. To be fair, neither Mayor Dacquisto or Councilperson Mezzano said that they supported the County’s decision in this discussion. I haven’t followed everything either of them have said about it publicly, so I cannot speak with certainty on their motives and views in that regard. We appreciate your input and comment!
I think the lack of supporting the letter shows a sign of weakness from mayor Dacquisto and council member Mezzano, as if they don’t want to appear to step on the toes of the ultra right wing supporters of Kevin Kry and Patrick Jones.
Sounds like to me that Mr. Mezzano might have some upcoming election concerns for himself; not wanting to scare off any of Crye supporters. Sorry, you can’t have it both ways; and how dare you doubt the County Clerk, Cathy Darling Allen, and her computations. You goofed on this one, Mr. Mezzano.
Glad Julie and Tenessa voted for sending the letter. Among another. AB969 makes this all go away anyways but the City Council needed to stand in solidarity against the County Council. Wish it was a 5-0 vote but I’ll take it.
For clarification, Mezzano was both a sponsor of the letter along with Winter but also voted against sending it?
Good question Katie. Yes, that’s correct. In comments during the meeting, he mentioned that he has always been opposed to sending the letter, but opted to help write it so that he could make sure that funding for public safety was listed as a concern.