During this morning’s Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting an unexpected (by everyone, even Garbutt) 3-2 vote catapulted a surprised Garbutt into one of two vacant seats of the toothless five-member Shasta County Elections Commission.
The Elections Commission was the brainchild of District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones as a way to keep the MAGA board majority’s sticky fingers intertwined in the county’s election-making business.
Today, against all odds, Brad Garbutt became a member of the controversial Elections Commission where he’ll join vice chair Margaret Hansen, chair Ronnean Lund, and fellow commissioner Patty Plumb.
Brad Garbutt, newly appointed to the Shasta County Elections Commission.
The remaining vacant seat belongs to District 2 Supervisor Tim Garman to bring forth yet a third nominee following the July 2 rejection of nominee Nathan Pinkney, and the board majority’s July 23 rejection of Benjamin Nowain. Of course, it’s possible that the scheming alt-right colleagues might swoop in, run interference and fill the seat in a power-grabbing move before Garman has a chance to protest.
As expected, District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert, who nominated Garbutt for the commission position, voted for Garbutt when agenda item R6 was up for consideration. She endorsed Garbutt as a well-respected long-time member of the real-estate community, and a citizen of high moral character.
Also as expected was District 2 Supervisor Garman’s vote for Garbutt, and Jones’ adamant vote against Garbutt.
Kelstrom’s tells
Kelstrom, perhaps wanting to mix things up a bit, rather than doing as he does 99.999% of the time where he wakes up from his deep supervisor slumber long enough to vote “no” to anything Rickert and Garman wanted, didn’t vote no. Instead, he recused himself, but didn’t state why. As Kelstrom announced his intentions to not support nominee Garbutt, Kelstrom manifested this weird tell he frequently displays with his mouth following something he’s said — perhaps a statement he views as important, or definitive: With his lips pressed together, he pushes his tongue to the inside of one cheek, where it appears as a small bulge. Then he quickly collapses his 6’9″ frame to the back of the chair, almost in a harrumph “take that!” exclamation-point gesture, then looks around, as if expecting applause. Watch for it.
District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom’s eyes often appear closed during meetings. Photo by Doni Chamberlain
Crye was the teeter-totter wild card when he pulled one of two unexpected moves related to the Garbutt agenda item. Crye shocked many people when he announced he’d be voting for Garbutt. Of course, although Crye ultimately voted for Garbutt, he first used the opportunity for some predictable character assassination about Garbutt.
“I think he’s nuts,” Crye said. “He thinks I’m nuts.”
Crye added that he didn’t respect Garbutt, except for that one time Garbutt attended a Coffee With Kevin event. That, Crye respected. But of course Crye would, because it was about Crye, and in the Land of Crye nothing makes Crye happier than when anyone — even an enemy — shows an interest in him.
But before the supervisors voted on R6, before discussion from supervisors about Garbutt, Crye made a stunning announcement about the upcoming public comment period. Crye said that because there were “a ton of cards” submitted — 10 — about Garbutt, instead of allowing the public their usual 3 minutes each to speak, on this one agenda item, Crye would limit each speaker to 2 minutes.
Jones, who often seems to forget he’s no longer the board chair, defended Crye’s decision.
“The chair has the discretion to set the time per item based upon the number of cards, you guys,” Jones said.
Supervisors Rickert and Garman both jumped on Crye’s bizarre decree, and strongly protested this move. Rickert recalled past meetings that lasted after midnight, because of the long public comment periods.
“We need to be consistent in these board chambers, and that’s not being consistent,” Rickert said. “I think it shows bias, and I think we need to treat people equally and fairly.”
When Garman echoed Rickert’s points, Crye replied to Garman with a heavy dose of snark and a fake apology for not checking with Garman first before Crye made that decision. Then, as Garman tried to speak again, Crye accused Garman of “killing county time” with arguments against Crye’s new 2-minute time limits.
As Rickert pointed out, shaving off 1 minute from each of the 10 speakers meant saving a mere 10 minutes total. Ironically, the discussion about Crye’s 2-minute time limits gobbled up more than 10 minutes.
Several members of the public shouted out their protests from the floor, which Crye gaveled down forcefully. There was shouting between some audience members, some of whom repeatedly yelled, “SHUT UP!!”
Welcome to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors meetings, which often feel on the verge of someone going postal, which is why you couldn’t pay me to close my eyes during the invocation.
Dictator Crye, so powerful he can change time
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- District 1 Supervisor Chair Kevin Crye
In one of the most cringeworthy gas-lighty moments of all, Crye thanked the public for accepting his 2-minute speaking rule. He was oblivious to the fact that public complacency regarding Crye’s iron-fisted new time limit was strictly to avoid Crye’s wrath, not because they agreed with him. No wonder the county’s admin building parking lot has so many empty spaces on BOS meeting days. Likewise, no wonder fewer and fewer people show up for supervisor meetings, and fewer still dare to speak and risk being bullied, interrupted or mocked by Chair “aka King” Crye.
These are the highlights regarding Garbutt’s appointment to the Shasta County Elections Commission. Stay tuned for when A News Cafe assistant Barbara Rice provides a full report after the county releases the streaming video of what else happened at today’s meeting.
In the meantime, Garbutt shared his thoughts about his appointment:
“Of course I expected to be voted down, but was pleasantly surprised,” Garbutt admitted.
“I’m looking forward to providing a different perspective on whatever the commission will be discussing in the meetings to come. If anyone has any suggestions or questions about our elections, feel free to reach out to me. I now have an ear and a voice and direct conduit to our new ROV. I have many questions of my own, but if anyone else is curious how things work behind the scenes, let me know.”
One small victory; a vacant Elections Commission seat filled by a board minority supervisor nominee. One left to go. Perhaps by the time the next nomination rolls around, Crye will have implemented a 1-minute speaking time. Anything’s possible.
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