Candidates Spar Over Rural Priorities at League of Women Voters Forum in Shasta County
- Elisa Ballard
- 3 minutes ago
- 4 min read
REDDING, Calif. — Incumbent Assemblymember Heather Hadwick (R) and challengers Darin Hale (R) and Dianna James (D) faced off in a spirited League of Women Voters candidate forum Friday evening, May 1, 2026, as they vie to represent California’s sprawling Assembly District 1.
The event, held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Riverfront Playhouse in Redding, was moderated by Susan Wilson, who read audience-submitted questions. The League, a nonpartisan organization that does not endorse candidates, emphasized civil discourse with no clapping or shouting permitted.
District 1, one of the state’s largest, encompasses Alpine, Lassen, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Modoc, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties, plus portions of Amador, El Dorado, and Placer counties. To win outright in the June 2 primary, a candidate needs more than 50% of the vote; otherwise, the top two advance to November regardless of party. Voter registration closes May 18, with mail ballots available starting May 5. Citizens may register at a polling location or at the Elections Office on the day of the election; however, their vote will be on a provisional ballot, subject to verification.
Opening Statements Highlight Experience and Roots
Hadwick, seeking re-election, stressed her deep local ties and legislative record. A Modoc County resident with a farm, pumpkin patch, and Highland cows, she previously served as deputy director of the Office of Emergency Services and worked on school safety preparedness. She reported driving 54,000 miles last year across the district and passing six of seven bills, including tax exemptions for wildfire victims. “It’s an honor to represent this district,” she said.
Hale, a newly elected Anderson City Councilmember since 2024, highlighted his rural upbringing on a 1,000-acre alfalfa farm in Lassen County, his construction work background, his service on local boards including the Airport Land Use Commission, school boards, and his family life with his wife and three children. He entered politics after frustration with certain legislation and emphasized that “the people are the rulers in the republic.”
James, a fifth-generation Californian and Democratic candidate living in Mt. Shasta, shared her family’s story of upward mobility through small business. With a background in international relations from San Francisco State and overseas work in democratic governance via the State Department and USAID, she expressed concern about “backsliding” in governance and noted that 85% of polled district residents feel ignored by their representatives.
Priorities: Infrastructure, Wildfires, and Rural Challenges
On top priorities if elected, the candidates focused on district-specific needs:
Hale emphasized infrastructure, noting limited federal funding reaching District 1 despite billions allocated statewide. He called for fixes to failing septic systems, wastewater treatment plants, and roads, while criticizing perceived “Marxist agendas” in schools with the "Community Schools" program which gives children as young as 12 years old access to medical care without the consent or knowledge of their parents. Hale also stated we need to reject social-emotional learning and go back to the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, while including ROP (Regional Occupational Programs), the trades, and life skills. He wants to keep social emotional issues out of the schools and leave that up to the parents. He pledged not to take monetary support or align with any group that brags about transitioning our kids.
James highlighted wildfire prevention, insurance reform, and utilities. She pointed to the U.S. Forest Service cuts as a very serious issue. She proposed hiring grant writers for small counties like Modoc and Siskiyou, bolstering the Safe Homes program for home hardening, and home hardening certification for insurance policy access. She wants to advocate for school infrastructure and fix the formula because overhead doesn't change even when student enrollment is down. She also wants to protect mental health counselors in schools because once the troubled youth age out, they are at risk of becoming homeless. She wants to work on identifying savings in the state budget by defunding initiatives that aren't really working.
Hadwick pointed to rural California’s disproportionate burdens, pushing to open forests for fuel reduction, address school funding formulas, teacher shortages, and rural healthcare access, including support for medical schools and career pathways. Sadly, she said some of the counties in the district don't even have hospice services. She also said that parents aren't parenting now. Based on her classroom experience, she wants to advocate for more teacher aides, greater support, and higher pay for teachers. Hadwick stated that children's behavior is "through the roof" due to legislation restricting disciplinary actions, and schools are achieving poor outcomes in teaching the basics, even though California spends more than almost any other state in the nation.
Bipartisanship vs. Confrontation
Asked how rural voices can best be heard in Sacramento, responses diverged sharply. James advocated for forums to bridge divides between environmentalists and ranchers, reducing political cruelty. Hadwick touted her #4 ranking in bipartisan bills, including efforts to save Head Start and organize legislative tours of rural forests and rivers. Hale rejected heavy bipartisanship, arguing Sacramento has neglected the district too long and prioritizing “100% honesty” over compromise.
Discussions on Assembly committees, the state budget deficit, healthcare shortages, federal funding cuts, school performance, party loyalty, the wolf problem, and senior needs revealed further contrasts. Healthcare themes included long drives to see specialists, cuts in Medicaid funding that are affecting hospitals and clinics, and giving financial incentives for doctors to serve rural areas if they agree to stay at least 3 years.
Closing Appeals
In closing, Hale thanked attendees and pledged to remain present in the community, respect differing views while refusing to compromise core values, and avoid “toothless” legislation.
James called for fixing broken systems through evaluation, defunding ineffective programs, and active citizen engagement, urging respectful dialogue.
Hadwick highlighted her accessibility via weekly newsletters and Zoom meetings, the demands of district travel, and pride in her team’s work advancing Northern California.
The forum underscored the district’s pressing rural concerns: wildfire resilience, infrastructure, healthcare access, education, and effective representation in a polarized capital. Voters have until June 2 to weigh in.
