Shasta County supervisors have censured County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis, following two investigative reports that found he had engaged in misconduct against staff, including verbal abuse, threats of violence, and retaliatory actions.

Investigations and Censure

The formal rebuke came after Supervisor Matt Plummer spent 15 minutes outlining the details of the investigative reports and the need to safeguard Shasta County employees. Plummer was joined by Supervisors Allen Long and Chris Kelstrom in voting to censure Curtis.

Supervisor Corkey Harmon was the lone holdout against the censure, citing his trust in people who have told him alternate versions of the events outlined in the investigation. Harmon maintained his support for Curtis, despite attempts by Plummer and Long to convince him of the necessity for the rebuke.

Public Comment and Reaction

About three dozen members of the public spoke out during public comment, with some issuing strong statements against Curtis and others praising his approach to running elections. Some of Curtis’ supporters engaged in misogynistic commentary, while others attacked county officials, including County Counsel Joseph Larmour.

Curtis himself spoke during public comment, centering his remarks around his intent to sue the county and alleging criminal activities by staffers in the elections office. He also showed a video of an alleged security violation by election staffers and claimed to have provided the video to the county administrative office and the FBI.

Supervisor Plummer responded to news of Curtis’ next steps by saying his actions immediately after the censure underscore the reason for the formal rebuke. Plummer emphasized that there are appropriate procedures for a department head to go through when addressing employee misconduct, and that going to the media without speaking to the employees is not what county policy dictates.

Original reporting: Shasta Scout (Redding) — read the source article.