Shasta BOS Meeting: ROV Curtis' Transparency Praised Amid Supervisor Long's Optics Concerns

Redding, CA – January 23, 2026 – The Shasta County Board of Supervisors' regular meeting on Tuesday, January 20, showcased the county's ongoing commitment to election integrity, even as Supervisor Allen Long raised questions about Registrar of Voters (ROV) Clint Curtis' proactive public engagement. Local activist Laura Hobbs, during public comments, passionately defended Curtis' transparency initiatives while shedding light on alleged past irregularities, framing the discussion as a positive step toward rebuilding trust in local elections.

Long's Concerns Over Curtis' Public Outreach: A Debate on Transparency vs. Optics

In the Board Matters segment, Supervisor Long expressed reservations about Curtis' approach to public education and outreach, particularly as Curtis campaigns for reelection in the June 2026 primary against former assistant Joanna Francescut. Long's detailed concerns originated during Curtis' January 6 Board presentation on voter outreach plans (including parades, floats, flags, and community events), where Long suggested such activities could blur lines between official duties and campaigning.

He also critiqued Curtis for hosting public tours of the elections office—including one on January 15 for Republican gubernatorial candidates and observers—where Curtis openly discussed documented irregularities from prior administrations. He mentioned discrepancies in ballot counts exceeding the number of voters, statistical anomalies, the ballots being moved around the building and hidden from view, and door keys with 500 missing log entries where ballots were processed and stored.

Long argued that these actions raised "optics" issues, potentially implying misuse of county resources. He motioned first for an investigation into policy compliance, which failed for lack of a second, then successfully passed (4-1) a request for a staff report to be discussed at the next meeting in two weeks.

While Long's intent appears to ensure impartiality, this scrutiny raises a broader question: Is it reasonable—or even absurd—to question a public official's ability to make public appearances and engage directly with constituents simply because they are running for office? Curtis' tours, presentations, and disclosures are core to his role in educating voters, promoting transparency, and addressing legitimate concerns about election processes—activities that elected officials routinely perform regardless of candidacy. Restricting such outreach could discourage officials from fulfilling their duty to inform the public, especially in a county where rebuilding election trust is a priority. Curtis' willingness to host these events and share factual details openly has been widely seen as a refreshing change, far more transparent than previous administrations.

Curtis has positioned these efforts as essential for public education and trust-building. Since his appointment in May 2025, he has contacted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding these irregularities, urging federal review to address potential systemic issues. This aligns with a November 2024 Board request for DOJ investigation into the 2024 elections, amplifying calls for external oversight. Curtis' advocates praise him for unprecedented transparency, such as implementing live-streaming of ballot processes, enhanced observer access, and strict chain-of-custody protocols that ensure ballots match voter counts—reforms that Hobbs and others say were sorely lacking before.

In a county with a history of election skepticism, Curtis' direct meetings with the public and sharing of factual details about past anomalies have been hailed as a positive development, fostering greater community involvement and confidence.

Laura Hobbs' Public Comments: Praising Curtis' Reforms and Urging Accountability for Past Issues

Public comments provided a platform for voices like Laura Hobbs, co-founder of the Shasta County Election Task Force, to celebrate Curtis' contributions while calling attention to unresolved concerns from previous ROV administrations. Hobbs detailed "ballot stuffing" allegations, explaining a nearly 3,000-ballot discrepancy (2,783 more ballots counted than voters) in the November 2024 election under former ROV Tom Toller. She referenced the ongoing Ladd v. Toller lawsuit (under appeal), which documents claims of improper ballot handling, voter roll maintenance failures, and observer obstructions, encouraging the public to review evidence at shastavote.org.

Hobbs lauded Curtis for his "extremely successful" internal reforms, including a robust chain-of-custody system that prevents such mismatches, describing it as a model for honest elections. "The people of Shasta deserve to know that their elections are honest," she said, crediting Curtis' transparency—far exceeding anything seen in prior administrations—with empowering citizens through public tours and disclosures.

She urged the Board to stop opposing lawsuits with taxpayer-funded legal battles, claiming officials "know that the November 2024 election was not above board" and certified results "under duress." Hobbs highlighted widespread support for integrity measures, like the 84% of Americans favoring voter ID (addressed in the upcoming Measure B charter amendment on the June 2026 ballot), and criticized the Board for not heeding repeated calls for audits. Yet, her tone emphasized hope, noting that persistent advocacy reflects strong community backing for positive change.

Hobbs concluded by challenging Supervisors Kevin Crye and Chair Chris Kelstrom to align with "we the people," but her overall message spotlighted Curtis' role in driving progress toward fairer elections.

Broader Context: Curtis' Transparency as a Beacon for Election Integrity

This meeting comes amid Shasta County's push for reforms, including the citizen-led Measure B, which proposes voter ID, single-day in-person voting, and hand-counting to enhance security. Curtis' unprecedented openness—through public engagements, DOJ outreach, and real-time process sharing—has been a game-changer, according to observers and activists. While Long's questions aim to safeguard neutrality, they also spark dialogue on how officials can best serve transparency without fear of reprisal.

As Shasta heads into another election cycle, Curtis' efforts stand out as a positive force, encouraging civic participation and addressing long-standing concerns. Residents committed to integrity, like Hobbs, see this as momentum toward trustworthy elections for all.