Supervisors unanimously condemn Shasta election official’s decision to restrict press access
Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis responded by saying county supervisors, including the three who voted to appoint him in May, are “confused.” Nevertheless, he’s agreed to post press releases on the county’s election website moving forward.
A united front of Shasta County supervisors issued a strong statement today after spending about an hour in a special closed session meeting.
The board discussed a legal demand sent Oct. 9 by the First Amendment Coalition. The nonprofit organization agreed to represent Shasta Scout pro bono after the news organization was recently removed from official election press releases by Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis, who cited concerns about Shasta Scout’s “political lean” and tax filing status as reasons for the removal.
After the closed session board meeting today, Oct. 14, Board Chair Kevin Crye shared a statement on behalf of all five board members, including three who voted to appoint Curtis just five months ago.
“The board unanimously respects the right of the press to have free and unfettered access to public information,” Crye said. “We condemn Mr. Curtis’ action of excluding the press and encourage him to maintain a high level of transparency and access to public information.”
“If it occurs again, the board will move to censure,” Crye concluded, as a number of audience members clapped in response.
In an interview with reporters after the meeting, Curtis said supervisors were confused indicating that this was not a matter of free speech. He said he didn’t want to share press releases with Shasta Scout because doing so seemed “morally wrong” due to his belief that the organization is “operating improperly” by reporting the news while registered as a nonprofit.
Nevertheless, moving forward, Curtis said, he will provide press releases on the Shasta’s election website so they’re available to everyone. Doing so will eliminate the legal threat to the county by ensuring Shasta Scout’s ongoing access to press releases. The elections press release page was updated this week to include a number of press releases from recent weeks and months that weren’t there last week.
Shasta Scout is one of hundreds of nonprofit media news organizations that operate across the United States, including the more than 500 that are members of the Institute of Nonprofit News, an organization which serves as Shasta Scout’s fiscal sponsor for tax purposes. Membership criteria to join INN includes agreeing not to report in a way that favors or endorses political candidates, in order not to run afoul of nonprofit tax law.
Asked to provide specific examples of how Shasta Scout’s reporting has been improperly political, Curtis said “you lean left.” Asked again for specific examples from reporting coverage that would violate nonprofit restrictions, he said he didn’t have to provide examples.
“That’s no longer our problem,” Curtis said instead, claiming that he has reported the news organization to federal officials. “We can let the big boys figure that one out now, since it’s already gotten kicked up the ladder. The DOJ, the IRS can look at it, decide what they want, not my problem.”
Referring to himself as a whistleblower, Curtis invoked national politics saying “NPR got in trouble for the same thing.” His reference was to National Public Radio (NPR), which recently lost government funding after a vote by Congress. Despite that funding loss, the national broadcast service continues to operate as a nonprofit news media organization.
David Bralow, Director of the Press Freedom Defense Fund, responded to a request for comment on the rights of nonprofit news organizations with this statement:
“Elected officials, particularly Election Officials, should understand that any non-profit news organizations (regardless of its editorial views — right, middle or left) have a mission to report the news and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that would prevent any non-profit news organization from covering the issues that affect a community.”
“In fact, it is this duty to the community,” Bralow continued, “that supports the Shasta Scout’s non-profit status. We all can agree that trying to censor that mission would be a disservice to the community and Press Rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
Yesterday, Oct. 13, the Society of Professional Journalists of Northern California also issued a statement denouncing what it referred to as Curtis’ “targeting” of Shasta Scout and calling on the election official to “cease making baseless allegations about Shasta Scout’s integrity.”
10.14.25 5:04 pm: We have updated the story to include a comment from David Bralow.
Do you have information or a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
Author
Comments (23)
Comments are closed.
Related Articles
Activist Benjamin Nowain arrested at Shasta County Board meeting
Newly appointed Board Chair Chris Kelstrom called for Nowain’s removal after the community member spoke out from the floor twice during another speaker’s time.
After brief administrative leave, Brian Barner resumes his role as Redding Police Chief
Redding City Council member Mike Littau announced last night that Barner would be returning to work, thanking the public for their patience during the potentially “sensitive” situation.
North State Congressman Doug LaMalfa has died after emergency surgery
The news of his death was announced by House Republicans today. LaMalfa’s empty seat narrows the already-thin margin between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
Curtis, seems like a partisan hack. Completely unqualified. You deserve better Shasta County.
What concerns me the most, is Curtis’s refusal to take responsibility , and blaming others who apparently are “confused “.
Which they may have been, when they hired him.
Crye had to sit up there and read the condemnation to the person that he hand picked! It was poetic justice to see him squirm doing it! Crye is as worthless as this Curtis idiot is! This upcoming election is going to be a shit show with Curtis or should we say Patty Plumb charge! Elections are coming vote out Crye and Kelstrom! If only Harmon was up for re-election he needs to go too!
Mr. Curtis’ actions against Shasta Scout reflect the same mentality as Trump’s toward any non-right wing, non-partisan media, and – even more specifically – Pete Hegseth’s ending the accreditation of virtually all the Pentagon press corps (even Fox News!). How can the local Republicans who oppose this anti-free press move by Mr. Curtis, and view themselves as “reasonable,” or maybe “moderate,” not oppose the anti-free press mentality and actions of Trump and his administration?
This boob is going to botch the upcoming election and cause the State to step in. No way he should be allowed to run an election when he is on the ballot. Crye and this idiot is going to cost the taxpayers thousands in litigation.
Selah
Congratulations Shasta Scout.
This means Shasta Scout news is fair and balanced. It does seem like a lot of commenter’s are kind of Democrat far left wacky. “I report you can decide”!
The Board made the right decision, for once. Now let’s hope they remain consistent in those values and don’t turn around and put restrictions on reporters in the Board meetings again like they’ve done before.
As for Curtis, he is unbelievable. Does not seem to be humbled by the Board’s statement or think he did anything wrong.
I think our MAGA board would have turned a blind eye to Curtis’s free speech offenses but, just maybe, they are worried about another lawsuit.
So Shasta Scout is a “political 501c3” which is against the law? It’s obvious that he doesn’t want honest journalists looking over his shoulder. Thanks for the job you do.
The evaporation rate gist increased in the backwater.
I don’t trust our elections anymore. Crye hired this guy because he claims he has the ability to write software to rig voting equipment. That is his one and only qualification. Come June, we must elect the person the board rejected twice, the person with nearly two decades of running local elections, Joanna Francescut. Then and only then, trust will be restored to our election department.
I completely agree. Thank you
and word has it that many community election-deniers have been hired by Curtis to help “run” the election coming up, including R. Gallardo. As I get ready to mail my ballot in, I cringe and wonder if it will indeed be counted, tossed or shredded.
The idea that these same Curtis sycophants will be dealing with next June’s election results makes me shiver.
Anita: When I spoke to Mr. Curtis a few weeks ago he said he had not hired Mr. Gallardo but would.
Real question: how does Curtis have time to independently investigate local news outlets’ filing status and to submit complaints to the “big boys” (IRS, DOJ)? I’ve worked elections and even the smaller ones were an “all hands on deck!” situation. I know this guy was really down on his luck and needed the government handout job, but thank the stars we’re a county who loves the meritocracy, to protect us from incompetence like this, right? Maybe I’m just “confused?” I guess “time management” might not be a strong point on his resume? #shrug
For once the entire board did the right thing. Now Curtis needs to go.
And the rest of us are ‘confused’ as to why such a bone headed schmuck ever ended up in this job in the first place. Thanks there, sups!!
I sure saw this kind of poor job performance coming. My research in 2024 indicated many red flags from his past. He never should have been appointed by the board majority of Crye, Kelstrom and Harmon.
What in the hell did they expect hiring a person that has no experience and no clue how to do the job?! Sad thing is, HHSA Admin is ran the same way and look at the mess they’re in. No leadership, no transparency, and no knowledge of how to do their job.
Congratulations Annelise and Shasta Scout. You continue to uphold the highest standards of community-centered journalism to which my father dedicated his entire career. Shasta County is lucky to have you, especially in times like these.
Great that you won this one. Congratulations.
I wonder how folks like him can miss that what they are doing is so obviously wrong.
Reminds me of Hegseth trying to make the Pentagon Press Corps into an organ of his press office.
Well, glad to see the Board still gives a damn about the 1st Amendment, who knew!? The gaslighting is strong in Curtis! LOL, you’re just “confused” it was my “moral obligation.”Wonder how Crye is feeling seeing his monster rebel…bad optics, man.
The threat of another lawsuit the county obviously would lose was their motivating factor in my opinion. Not sure some of board might agree with Mr. Curtis.