Shasta County voters have made a significant change by removing a prominent figure associated with the county’s shift towards the far-right. The outcome of another far-right advocate on the influential Board of Supervisors is still undecided.
Patrick Jones, who previously chaired the five-member board, faced a decisive defeat in the Super Tuesday election. The county registrar’s Friday afternoon results showed that with 98% of the votes counted, Jones’ rival, Matt Plummer, a nonprofit advisor, secured nearly 60% of the votes.
This result represents a remarkable shift for Jones, a gun store manager, who became a leading figure in the ultraconservative movement. This movement turned the predominantly rural Northern California county into a focal point for hard-right governance and skepticism towards election integrity.
In recent times, Jones spearheaded efforts to abandon Dominion voting machines in favor of manual ballot counting. He also advocated for a county resolution to uphold the 2nd Amendment and supported a policy allowing concealed weapons in local government buildings, challenging state legislation.
Jones collaborated with militia members and secessionists on campaign initiatives that significantly altered the county’s governance, previously managed by mainstream Republicans.
In another closely observed primary, Jones’ political ally, Supervisor Kevin Crye, narrowly avoided a recall election by a margin of just 46 votes. Last year, Crye gained attention for seeking support from Mike Lindell, a well-known election skeptic and CEO of MyPillow, to reject Dominion machines.
Allen Long, a retired Redding police lieutenant and considered a moderate, led a race for an open board seat in western Shasta County. In a four-candidate contest, Long had 50.3% of the vote by Friday, narrowly avoiding a runoff.
On the campaign trail, Long expressed that many voters were alarmed by the rhetoric at supervisors’ meetings and desired change. He emphasized the need for the county government to address issues like homelessness and enhancing wildfire safety in local communities.
Long aimed to steer the county back to a more moderate stance, contrasting with Laura Hobbs, who trailed with 19% of the vote and identifies as “100% MAGA and America First.” Hobbs recently accused incumbent Supervisor Mary Rickert of satanic worship due to her license plate number.
Rickert, a moderate Republican, led her reelection bid with 40.4% of the vote but seems headed for a runoff against quarry owner Corkey Harmon. Win Carpenter, a key figure in the State of Jefferson secessionist movement, was in third place.
The election outcomes suggest a potential shift towards moderation in Shasta County, indicating a preference for a government more focused on everyday concerns.
Residents like Jenny O’Connell, who supported Crye’s recall, expressed a longing for normalcy after years of political turmoil, highlighting the exhaustion and desire for stability.
Despite Jones’ defeat, he remains optimistic, with about nine months left in his term to continue pursuing conservative policies. The registrar’s office noted that 1,208 ballots were still pending review.
As votes were tallied, questions arose about Jones’ involvement in a controversial radio ad alleging voter fraud, which was quickly discredited by county officials. Jones and his appointee, Bev Gray, were linked to the ad, which was billed to Jones’ family-owned gun store.
Jones dismissed the controversy, while the district attorney’s office announced an investigation into the incident. Jones criticized the investigation as an intimidation attempt.
Jones, a former Redding mayor, was the first hard-right figure elected to the board, riding a wave of conservative backlash against COVID-19 measures and the 2020 election outcome. His tenure began controversially, allowing an angry crowd into a county building, challenging public health guidelines.
In early 2022, ultraconservatives, supported by Reverge Anselmo, a former filmmaker, successfully recalled Supervisor Leonard Moty, partly for adhering to state COVID-19 mandates.
Crye, the current board chair, and Supervisor Chris Kelstrom, who campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform, remain on the board as ultraconservative members.
The local vector control board saw the appointment of a right-wing activist who raised concerns about “flying syringes” for mass vaccination, and a critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates was named the county’s new health officer.
The board’s decision to cancel its contract with Dominion Voting Systems over unfounded fraud claims and switch to hand-counting ballots sparked widespread concern. This move made Shasta the largest U.S. entity to adopt hand counts, leading to legislative action by Gov. Gavin Newsom to limit such practices.
Jones publicly criticized the county’s registrar-recorder, Cathy Darling Allen, leading to harassment of election staff. Allen, facing health issues, announced her retirement.
Plummer, Jones’ opponent, focused his campaign on non-partisan issues like crime and infrastructure, resonating with voters tired of political drama.
The community’s fatigue with ongoing political controversies was evident, with residents rallying for change and a return to focusing on everyday issues.