Whistleblower Shares Inside Perspective From Shasta County’s Public Health Officer Hiring Panel
Most of the hiring process for the county’s new Public Health Officer has been obscured from the public’s view. We spoke to a source from inside the hiring panel to bring some of that story to the public.
Editor’s Note: We have kept our main source for this story anonymous by using the pseudonym “Dr. Smith.” Decisions to keep sources anonymous must consider the benefits of transparency to the public versus the risks of exposure to the source. In this case, our decision not to name our source is based on the history of threats made against Shasta County’s former Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom and other leadership within the HHSA branch during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are aware of our source’s identity and have verified that they had direct knowledge of the hiring panel and have no obvious motive to be inaccurate in their account of what occurred. Key details of their story have been verified by other sources who spoke off the record.
“We interviewed him on July 24,” Dr. Smith (not their real name) told Shasta Scout by phone earlier this week.
The “him” Dr. Smith was referring to is Dr. James Mu, a family physician who has worked in Shasta County for the last thirty years. Last week, on October 17, Dr. Mu was appointed as Shasta County’s Public Health Officer by a three to two vote of the Board of Supervisors. The decision to choose Mu for the position has stirred controversy among some in the community, both because he does not have a degree in Public Health and because he publicly opposed state health mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the board discussion just prior to the vote on Dr. Mu’s appointment, Supervisor Mary Rickert raised concerns and stated that the community should be aware of what transpired during the hiring panel process which, she seemed to indicate, she had participated in.
“We had a panel that interviewed for this position,” Supervisor Rickert told CEO David Rickert and County Counsel Gretchen Stuhr. She then inquired, “Are we allowed to talk about what that vote was for the public? I think it should be transparent to the public. I would like for that to come forward.”
In response, Stuhr indicated that it’s not standard practice to discuss personnel hiring while CEO Rickert said that he felt that doing so could represent liability concerns.
“I would maybe note from personnel’s perspective,” Shasta County Personnel Director Monica Fugitt added, “we would not typically discuss the voting of the panel.”
The statement from Fugitt matches what Shasta Scout was told by county spokesperson David Maung a few weeks ago.
“Similar to past media requests pertaining to hiring,” Maung wrote by email on September 21, “the details surrounding the hiring process (for the public health officer) are kept confidential by Support Services to protect the privacy and safety of any staff, applicants or other persons involved.”
While some details of hiring are always kept confidential, the county’s lack of transparency in the case of the public health officer hiring panel differs sharply from how much information was offered to the public during the recent hiring of the county’s new CEO, Rickert.
Prior to CEO Rickert’s appointment, the names of those on the hiring panel were disclosed during the interview process, as was information on how panel members were chosen. In contrast, information related to the hiring panel for the public health officer has been nearly impossible to access from county sources.
On September 29, Stewart Buettell, Shasta County’s Deputy CEO responded to Shasta Scout’s request for information about the hiring process for another position by saying that the county’s recruitment process is outlined in the county’s Personnel Rules. Those rules indicate that panels will ordinarily be selected by the personnel department and the person in charge of appointing the position and will be chosen for “their knowledge and expertise regarding the position.”
The county’s personnel rules further indicate that hiring panels may fail a candidate if they are not objectively qualified for the position. “For example,” the manual states, “the interview may reveal that the individual lacks essential knowledge, job-specific skills, necessary communication skills, a basic understanding of the job functions or other key qualifications typically required of the position.”
Ultimately, the manual indicates, it is up to personnel whether to concur with the panel’s findings. The manual does not specify anything about confidentiality related to an interview panel.
Dr. Smith says they were never told that what occurred on the panel was confidential or should be kept secret. Smith say the hiring panel interviewed two candidates on September 24, the day Dr. Mu was evaluated. After each interview, Smith explained, the hiring panel was tasked with ranking each applicant, first by verbally sharing what they saw as strengths and weaknesses, and then using a paper ranking system.
According to Dr. Smith, there were eight people on the public health officer hiring panel including two county board supervisors, three physicians, and three senior members of Shasta County staff.
The contrast between the panel’s response to the two candidates was significant, Dr. Smith elaborated, saying: “Seven of the eight people (on the panel) said Dr. Mu wasn’t qualified because he lacked training and experience.”
In fact, Dr. Smith says, the only person who recommended Dr. Mu for the position was County Board Chair Patrick Jones.
“[Jones] said he would recommend him because he’s seen him improve in leadership over the last years,” Dr. Smith elaborated, “and he could figure it out.”
When it came to providing feedback on the other candidate, Dr. Smith said, the exact opposite happened. Every member of the hiring panel voted for that candidate except Jones.
“Then,” Dr. Smith recounted “Monica (Fugitt) asked, ‘What if the second candidate wasn’t here: how would you feel about Dr. Mu for this position?’ Again all seven candidates said they wouldn’t recommend him for the position because he wasn’t qualified . . . Only Jones said he would still recommend him.”
Jones declined to comment for Shasta Scout on any details related to the hiring panel saying that county personnel matters are confidential. When asked why the members of the public Health Officer panel were kept confidential while members of the CEO panel weren’t, Jones said he wasn’t sure why but said he believed the process for the public health officer matched the county’s usual hiring panel process.
On August 1, the Board of Supervisors met in a closed session to discuss a potential appointment for the position of Public Health Officer. It is not clear whether they reviewed the panel rankings and considered the potential appointment of both candidates interviewed by the hiring panel that day, or just that of Dr. Mu.
Board members contacted by Shasta Scout for more information confirmed that the Brown Act prohibits them from sharing what happened during a closed session, including what, if any, information from the hiring panel was shared with them prior to their vote and whether they considered more than one candidate on August 1.
During the board’s October 17 meeting, the public health officer appointment was finally publicly discussed by supervisors. Just prior to a vote on the matter, Supervisor Rickert questioned staff about whether she could share information related to the hiring panel, which she indicated she had participated in, saying she’d like an answer about the potential to discuss the panel’s decision publicly before voting.
After the County Counsel, CEO, and Personnel Director all indicated they thought she shouldn’t, Jones weighed in.
“As far as the (panels) that have met,” Jones said. “I was involved in most of those as well. All of that is meaningless. It’s ultimately up to this board. So no matter what happens in those meetings, it’s this board that makes the decision as to what is best for Shasta County.”
Rickert fired back immediately, “So you’re saying that the interview panels were meaningless, is that what you just said?”
“No,” Jones responded, “it’s the ultimate authority of this governing body to make the decision, not who was appointed to be on those panels.”
“Well, there was a panel appointed and the panel was to make a recommendation to the board.” Rickert pushed back. “And I think for transparency purposes in Shasta County in 2023 it’s important for that information to be given to the public.”
After county counsel and the CEO advise against it, Rickert did not further discuss the panel deliberations and the vote proceeded.
Dr. James Mu speaks to the public right after being appointed as Shasta County’s new public health officer.
After the board voted three to two in favor of the appointment. Dr. Mu was invited to speak. He used his time at the dias to directly address some of the statements made both by Supervisor Rickert and by Supervisor Tim Garman, who also voted against his appointment.
“Supervisors Rickert and Garman I will try my best to win your support,” Dr. Mu said.
“I would like to follow evidence-based policy. However, if there are medical dogmas that are not good for the population in our county then I will question and even challenge them. Because protecting my family and by extension the whole county is my top priority. And I will continue to gather wisdom through the public and through other medical professionals and medical agencies.”
“And for those that are skeptical of me,” Dr. Mu continued. “I will value your contribution and your constructive criticism as well. My goal is to increase trust in public health through transparency and honesty.”
Have questions, concerns, or comments you’d like to share with us directly? Reach out: editor@shastascout.org. If you choose to leave a comment please keep in mind our community guidelines. All comments will be moderated to ensure a healthy civic dialogue.
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I have known Dr. Mu, and have worked with him, for several years and feel he will make an excellent Public Health Officer. He is very intelligent, dedicated, passionate, honest, hard working, and trustworthy. With these qualities, he will be successful in whatever path he chooses, including Public Health Officer. I know many have been critical regarding his stance on vaccines. According to the Shasta County Covid-19 Declaration, he was against vaccine MANDATES, and supported the appropriate use of Covid 19 vaccines, especially for high risk patients. I feel confident that he will look at ALL data when making decisions.
SHASTA COUNTY NEEDS TO VOTE ALL THE MAGA. ALT RIGHT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR POSITIONS AS SOON AS WE CAN. THEY HAVE DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO THIS COUNTY AND SHOULD NEVER BE IN THE POSITIONS THEY HOLD. WE NEED TO RESTORE INTEGRITY AND RATIONAL SANE THINKING TO SHASTA COUNTY.
What you are describing happens all the time with hiring panels in Shasta County. Being familiar with the City Of Redding’s hiring process I can tell the candidates chosen for positions are often not the candidates recommended by hiring panels. The panels are only there to give the appearance of objectivity and to protect the agencies from liability.
The city has argued successfully in numerous hearings and lawsuits that the panel results are meaningless and they can hire whoever they want.
What you are taking issue with in this instance is common practice in Shasta County throughout your local government, top to bottom, all the time. It should be dealt with but nobody has the time or money to take on the government agencies responsible that are playing with house money and can string litigation out for years.
Complaining about it happening this one time is disingenuous when it has been going on for decades and you have been ok with it all along.
Fascinating, if true.
Just go and check out any bid put out in either Shasta County or City of Redding that required a panel presentation, those scores from the panel are public record, then compare them to either the Board of Supervisors or City Council selection of who was awarded the bid, and you’ll have the answer one way or another.
One thing I would pay close attention to, is see how the companies are rated who have similar answers. I know of at least one case for a bid proposal, two companies had similar answers almost across the board, yet the panel scored one company (who happened to be the incumbent) higher.
Not what I would call a fair process, and most companies won’t bother fighting it because of the belief that if they do, they would be blackballed from ever being able to bid on a project again.
This is a good idea. Thank you.
I rather think you overstate (to be diplomatic) how frequently or routine it is for hiring panels to be completely ignored. And quite clearly what is transpiring with the Board at this point in time – is clear departure from what went before. What we are seeing now is different – and no matter how much lipstick is painted on …
Roddypiper- So your post says there is no point for review panels other than a CYA? Only one person like Jones decides who gets the job ? Maybe he learned this from his time on city council . Sounds like a scene out of Godfather movie- kiss the ring, pay up and you’re familia…. Knight, Mu, Crye and Kelstrom -yes men bought and paid for.
Thank you Shasta Scout. Clearly, the J.C.K. Cartel is about as transparent as solid wood door. Authoritarianism requires flat out lies, lies (yes, there comes a point when misinformation and conspiracies can’t be called alt-fact anymore), secret / opaque operations, slander and hate of democracy, sexism, white tRumpian nationalism, radio propaganda (KCNR), and social media propaganda (RW&B co-owners Carlos Zapata, Jon Knight, and Jeremy Edwardson), a dedicated neo-confederate militia and dark money, lots of money.
As local reporting has shown, the J.C.K. Cartel has it all. The J.C.K. Cartel has made many mistakes and there are possible legal liabilities outstanding. However it take vigilant investigative reporting (like this) and people willing to take what they have learned and do something about the Cartel other than complain. Come to the SCBS / school board Meetings and speak out, boycott propaganda outlets, register and VOTE to recall and replace the Cartel!
The comments above are fraught with hateful lies. The Board majority is doing a great job and will of the majority of people in Shasta County. Sadly, liberals and fake conservatives hate not being in control. They seem to want failed liberalism to run this conservative county.
No Bruce, you’re wrong.
There are plenty of true conservatives who do not agree with what Jones is trying to do.
Jolly, I disagree! Quit listening to local liberal media that hates conservative values. If you are a true patriotic conservative, you would support Patrick Jones. We have phony/fake Republicans who say they are fiscal conservatives. Patrick Jones, Chris Kelstrom and Kevin Crye are saving Shasta County money.
Well Bruce I disagree with you.
And on the contrary they have cost us a ton of money.
And it’s not about listening to a right-wing or left-wing media, I happen to live here in Shasta county so I can see for myself what is going on.
Maybe you need to consider that you are getting your information from by biased sources.
Wake up.
Jones is a petty little tyrant. He talks a lot about restoring trust, and claims he is for transparency, yet his actions are anything but trustworthy or transparent.
Vote this guy out.
That Patrick Jones pushed through not one but two highly unqualified candidates for boards and employment is heinous! He has blackmailed other county employees, bullies others and is hell bent on bankrupting this county! He has to go! Where is the Grand Jury on all of this!
Sounds like to me it’s all about the money with you and also sounds like to me that is Mr Jones is trying to keep Shasta county residents alive and well where people still have a choice now you can think about it’s bankrupting the county money money pretty sad when you can’t even trust our own Shasta county medical services who are you to think that you know best for me or mine. Jones keep it safe and thank you of course they won’t they won’t post this anyways I’m sure does the truth just don’t sell!
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Some basic punctuation would would help me understand your opinion. As it is, it is one run-on sentence and hard for the reader to process.
Dr. Mu may well be a very fine general practitioner. However, as the article makes clear, he was also a very distant second choice (in fact not the choice) of the hiring panel tasked with screening for this position. That is simply fact, and the disclosure of such hardly constitutes a ‘hit piece’.
My sister-in-law has been going to Dr. Mu for 20 yrs and has nothing but positive things to say about him both as person and a physician. I pretty tired of seeing people, who don’t their get way, acting like children, throwing little fits and quite frankly making accusations they have no science to back it up. Many national sources, have refuted the Covid-19 vaccine, and many,many Doctors have come out with findings that don’t support the Fauci narrative. In reading these responses, seems these folks are suffering from PHJ syndrome as his name was repeated 6 times and inferred once.
Kay, excellent comments. Prideful and spoiled people can’t handle the truth.
Being a family health doctor and being a public health doctor are entirely different fields, and Dr. Mu is clearly unqualified for the position.
How will he handle something like a train derailment with a toxic substance? The threat of a smallpox outbreak? Suicide prevention? Meningitis? I cited these examples because SCPH has dealt with some of these threats (and realities), and many more I don’t personally know of.
The position is nothing at all like a medical practice, it’s the ability to work with all the first responders in a community in the event of a widespread crisis, and to to coordinate and interpret the statistics and data epidemiologists gather. This position oversees the prevention of communicable disease, senior health, tobacco cessation, obesity prevention, childhood health…on and on. It’s community based, not patient based. At one time, public health educators were literally giving nutrition classes to area physicians…like Dr. Mu. How is he to process and learn an entire new discipline while learning on the job? And who’s going to protect us from his inexperience when the public health department has become so depleted?
The opposition to this bizarre hiring literally has nothing to do with Covid 19, unless the people who approved him did so because of his anti-vaccine stance over his actual qualifications. Which he lacks.
“Many national sources, have refuted the Covid-19 vaccine”
What is a ‘National source’? Name some.
He might be a good doctor. I don’t think anyone is saying he isn’t a good family practice physician. He has no public health training and that is the issue. The issue, too, is that a majority of highly trained and educated individuals votes to not move forward with him while one did, and that one has the power ultimately. That is not people not getting their way that is abuse of power and that is why everyone is upset.
I agree. This was a political appointment and had nothing to do with qualifications for the position.
I would think Dr. Mu’s hiring would be a huge conflict of interest since he contributed to both Crye and Kelstrom’s campaigns and they, in turn, select him over the recommendation of the hiring committee.
This a pathetic and unnecessary hit piece. Dr Mu is great doctor who listens to all sides of the issues. He is a great choice for Health Officer. Thank you, Patrick Jones. It is so sad that we have many haters of common-sense conservatism in this community.
Bruce, common sense would seem to indicate that if seven of eight people on an interview panel did not want to hire a person, then maybe, just maybe that person shouldn’t be hired.
Speaking as a retired RN and long time member of this community, I was initially shocked and a bit horrified by this decision, primarily because of Mu’s stance on Covid mandates. Then I was encouraged by Supervisor Mary Rickert’s opposition to Patrick Jones’s manipulation of the facts to enable him to have the last word. It’s time for Mr. Jones to get back to his shop and get off the BOS Board. Robert’s comment above is quite significant: our community needs to become more educated , more involved, more active and remove Patrick Jones.
This is pathetic. What more must we see before we stop these three from blowing up our county completely?
Well, Jones put an end to interview panels in Shasta County. No one is going to want to waste their time on a process that is completely ignored. It is an inconvenience to sit on those panels. It takes away from your other more pressing duties.
Yes, wake up Shasta Co. Voters and start with the Gateway Board of Trustees election for November 7. You voters in Area 2 have a clear and distinct choice, Casey Bowden; or the other candidate supported by the Republican Central Committee and Patrick Jones followers. It’s in your hands to deliver a person who will bring the Gateway School Bd to a sense of sanity. Patrick Jones has once more squashed what those from his political camp call Freedom, but only used when it’s up to him. Dr. Mu states he will protect his family and the whole county, but why does he advocate no Masks, No Vaccination ? Did I read correctly that he’ll have several months to complete his public health degree at the expense of the county, while still phasing out his own practice ? Being paid as Health Officer and billing insurance companies…. What a deal ! Hope I’m wrong here.
Jones’ choke-hold and tyrannical governance in Shasta is well documented. He’s right the panels are meaningless because only his opinion counts. They can just figure it out on the fly. Whether it’s Mu or the grossly unqualified Jon “Spicoli” Knight, or the easily manipulated majority elections advisory committee comprised of mature aged busybodys under Chair Hair Bear. who never met a phony conspiracy theory they didn’t like.
The only solution is a regime change. Jones has zero scruples and will fire on, blackmail, and destroy every impediment in his way until many more community members become active, informed and engaged. Stand up and take a stand. Otherwise Jones, through his shyster lawyers, minor straw bosses filtering down to his mentally disturbed Internet squad of loud obnoxious bullies, detractors, and harassers , will continue the degredation of our poor county funded by Daddy Warbucks Anselmo and whatever other funneled dark cash sources there may be…
For all the insincere utterings by Jones about faith, trust and transparency on board decisions – this just confirms what many of us have been observing since he created his voting majority. The manipulation and control by Jones and his two yes men, Crye and Kelstrom over this county cannot continue! You can’t keep ignoring the signs. Wake up Shasta county constituents!
Totally Unacceptable for board (Dictator Jones) to outright dismiss the highest ranked applicant choice of the interviewing panel.
This can’t stand.
Unfortunately this kind of thing happens all the time in government.
Clearly a fix was in coordinated by Jones. The question of public health qualifications and experience is a critical consideration. The insider’s description of ratings and recommendations by the interview panel should be disclosed as fact! Those were written views based on the interviews of the candidates. To then pretend that Mu was the most highly rated interviewed should be called a deliberate lie and total distortion by Jones! Dereliction of duty and malfeasance in office!