Redding Rancheria PAC spends $32,000 to support four city council candidates

A political action committee created by the Redding Rancheria has spent more than $32,000 to support the campaigns of Redding City Council candidates Mark Mezzano, Christina Prosperi, Paul Saulsbury and Elise Ramirez Sloan, according to campaign filing documents and the Tribe. 

Rancheria Government Affairs Manager Lane Rickard said in an email statement this afternoon that the Tribe created the Sovereign Voices PAC to help elect council members who understand the intergovernmental relationship between the Tribal council and Redding council. 

“The Sovereign Voices PAC spent approximately $21,000 on radio ads and $11,000 on mailers to endorse candidates who treat the Tribe fairly and understand that the Tribe is a sovereign government,” Rickard wrote. 

PACs are organized to raise and spend money for the purpose of electing and defeating candidates for political offices, and they typically represent ideological, labor or business interests. Rickard clarified that the PAC’s contributions were made in the form of independent expenditures, meaning that the money isn’t donated to candidates’ campaigns and is instead spent independently to support the candidates without their collaboration or coordination, such as through radio advertisements and mailed flyers designed and sent out by the Tribe.

Despite the money being used for four different candidates, the official name of the PAC is “Sovereign Voice PAC sponsored by Redding Rancheria, in support of Mezzano for City Council 2026,” documents show. When asked about this, Rancheria spokesperson Miranda Edwards Favorite told Shasta Scout that when the Tribe originally created the PAC, it was focused on support for Mezzano, but leaders have since decided to also support other candidates. 

The Rancheria has contributed more than $40,000 to the PAC’s account, but only about $32,000 has been spent so far, Rickard said, adding that the spending has primarily supported Mezzano.

Mezzano indicated over the phone today that he wasn’t completely aware of the Tribe’s contributions, saying he didn’t know how much it had contributed and what exactly the money had been spent on. He added that the Tribe hasn’t consulted him about how the PAC money is spent. Flyers sent to registered voters advertising his campaign included wording indicating that the materials were paid for by the Tribe’s PAC.

Ramirez Sloan said by text that she’s been endorsed by the Rancheria but doesn’t have any say or input on their PAC, though she said she informs the Tribe if she has media appearances. She added that she feels the city and the Tribe can build better relationships. 

Saulsbury said in an email statement that he was informed by the Rancheria’s PAC that it spent money on radio advertising for his candidacy. He said he doesn’t recall exactly how much was spent and noted that his campaign didn’t receive the funds directly or control expenditures. 

“I appreciate the Rancheria’s support and their confidence in my candidacy,” he said, “but I remain independent and committed to making decisions based on what I believe is best for the residents of Redding.” 

Prosperi clarified that the Rancheria hasn’t contributed to her campaign directly, as she did not seek a contribution. 

Rickard explained that among the reasons the Rancheria created the PAC was to level the playing field with another local Tribe, the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. He described the other Tribe’s past donations as “supporting candidates who oppose Redding Rancheria.” Campaign filings show the Paskenta Tribe’s PAC spent tens of thousands of dollars in 2024 in support of council member Tenessa Audette’s run for California State Assembly, along with contributions that benefitted former Supervisor Mary Rickert, council member Erin Resner and former council member Joshua Johnson. 

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