Shasta County Supervisors Side with Sacramento Tyranny Over Local Voters on Measure B

Rex Ballard
2 days ago
3 min read

OPINION

In a stunning act of cowardice, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors has made their allegiance crystal clear with a 4-0 vote: they stand with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, and the one-party Sacramento machine rather than with the citizens who overwhelmingly passed Measure B.

Measure B was approved by a clear majority of Shasta voters in the June primary. The passage of Measure B was a straightforward exercise in local self-governance. It demanded common-sense reforms: photo ID for registration and in-person voting, strict limits on mail-in ballots (with narrow exceptions), hand-counting at the precinct level for real transparency, a single Election Day focus, and voter rolls maintained locally and independently from the state's compromised system.

These aren't radical ideas. They're basic safeguards that have been used successfully in many states to restore trust in elections. But in California, where expanded mail voting, same-day registration, and resistance to ID have become articles of faith for the ruling regime, Shasta's push for integrity is treated as heresy. Bonta and Weber's swift lawsuit — a 65-page writ in the Third District Court of Appeal — brands Measure B "legally indefensible" and demands it be blocked before November.

The supervisors' refusal to defend it in closed session sends a damning message: Your votes don't matter if they challenge state control. This isn't neutral legal caution — it's active surrender to Sacramento's preemption of local will. It echoes the board's earlier reluctance during the qualification fights. Proponents and citizens have been left to carry the burden while elected leaders fold.

Kevin Crye's Broken Promise

Particularly disappointing is the absence of Supervisor Kevin Crye. Crye had repeatedly promised Shasta voters that he would fight to defend the will of the people and deliver on election integrity. Yet when the moment came to stand up in closed session on this critical issue, he wasn't even present for the 4-0 capitulation.

Whether due to health reasons or otherwise, his absence allowed the board to rubber-stamp surrender without his voice. Shasta voters who supported him based on those promises deserve better. Actions — or the lack thereof — speak louder than campaign rhetoric.

The Real Stakes

Shasta County has endured years of election controversies, machine skepticism, and eroded confidence. Measure B was the people's direct response — a charter amendment rooted in the belief that elections should be verifiable, observable, and secure. By not fighting the lawsuit, supervisors effectively nullify that democratic expression in favor of uniform (and often criticized) state procedures that prioritize "access" over integrity.

This fits a larger pattern: California's single-party dominance tolerates no dissent, especially from conservative-leaning counties daring to experiment with reforms. Hand counts and ID requirements aren't barriers to voting; they're barriers to fraud and doubt. Yet the state sues its own citizens rather than allowing local accountability.

Time to Hold Them Accountable

Shasta voters, mark your calendars for the November 2026 general election. This decision reveals who truly represents you and who prioritizes political survival and Sacramento's agenda.

Chris Kelstrom chose not to stand with Shasta County citizens - remember this on election day this coming November.
Corky Harmon, Allen Long, and Matt Plummer - their elections will be right around the corner before you know it. They all chose not to stand with Shasta County. Don't forget it.
Kevin Crye's run is coming to an end, and we will need to hold Erin Resner accountable.
Support candidates who will fight for Shasta's sovereignty, not capitulate to tyranny.
Demand transparency on closed-session deliberations and push for intervenors or alternative defenses if the board won't lead.

The initiative process exists because representative government sometimes fails. When supervisors won't defend the will of the voters — and key promises go unfulfilled — it's time for the ballot box to deliver the correction.

Shasta Unfiltered will continue to expose these failures and amplify citizen voices.

The fight for secure elections isn't over — it's moving to November and beyond. Vote like your republic depends on it. Because it does.