By Christian Gardinier
As there is no room for racism, sexism, and radical political extremism in Shasta County, there is NO room for political violence in our county.
Oh, wait. On second thought, with Supervisors Jones and Crye at the helm, maybe there is.
Jones, a well-documented election liar and MAGA propagandist has skirted, if not violated, laws, codes, policies, and procedures of Shasta County and The State of California while helping to craft a permission structure for racism, sexism, and, yes, craft a potential for violence in federal court recognized “Sensitive Places,” like the Shasta County Board of Supervisors (SCBOS) Chambers, with stunts like his fake, worthless and illegal “Gun Sanctuary” resolution, costing Shasta County hard-earned taxpayer dollars, dividing us and tarnishing the county’s reputation.
Crye, who calls disgraced election liar Mr. Pillow his mentor, and who admitted he didn’t know what the SCBOS was before he came to his first supervisors meeting a few years ago, actually told me in a meeting that I should be concerned because his good buddy and funder Mark Kent, a white nationalist militia darling (who assaulted Doni Chamberlain back in July 23) “said he was going to take you outside.”
Left, Thomas Hildebrandt, who punched Christian Gardinier in the stomach during a Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting, joins Supervisor Patrick Jones and his supporters inside the Shasta County Courthouse to testify against the county in the Hobbs v. Long et al hearing.
And Tuesday, in the Shasta County Board of Supervisors chambers, Thomas Hildebrandt, one of the ardent supporters of the Crye, Jones, and Kelstrom Cartel, told me the very same thing… right before he punched me in the stomach as I approached the podium to speak.
Christian Gardinier speaks after being assaulted by Thomas Hildebrandt during the Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.
Funny, I also remember asking Crye at what turned out to be a fake Town Hall at the start of his political career, “Supervisor, some of your friends are militia members who threaten and endorse violence, “What are you going to do to keep citizens safe?” Crye replied, “That’s a good question …”
During Kevin Crye’s first and last town Hall meeting in March of 2023, Christian Gardinier asks Crye what he plans to do about increasing numbers of North State extremists who frighten people.
It turns out the answer is, “not much”.
Be concerned! It turns out that many of the local and national MAGA Republicans who believe that Trump won in 2020 and who believe voting machines flipped the vote for President Biden also state, “If elected leaders do not protect America, the people must do it themselves, even if it requires violent actions.”
In fact, in typical MAGA fashion, cowards Crye and Kelstorm just stood by and watched when Doni — who they call an enemy of the people — was attacked in the above-mentioned militia party in Cottonwood, California, by MAGA devotee Mark Kent. After all, their avatar, adjudicated rapist and 34-felon count criminal, has given them permission to commit violence. So, is it any wonder that Crye has replaced Shasta County Sheriffs with his security guards?
-
- District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones
-
- District 1 Supervisor/Chair Kevin Crye.
-
- District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom
Some, if not all, of the BIG LIE conspiracy themes are not only believed by Jones, Crye, and Kelstorm, but for the last three years, the supervisors have reveled in them ad nauseam, encouraging and giving their base of far-right extremists time to conduct a three-year circus costing taxpayer time, money and resources to propagate lying and dangerous propaganda in the SCBOS Chambers. This waste is part of the millions of dollars Jones, Crye, and Kelstorm have flushed down the toilet to spread propaganda, lies, division, hate, chaos, and discord within Shasta County, along with questionable use of taxpayer dollars to spread cronyism for their supporters.
Of course, the J.C.K. Circus could be considered a Brown Act violation as all of its propaganda is universes away from any legal jurisdiction of the board. Legal jurisdiction generally means “A political subdivision (e.g., municipality, county, parish, state, Federal) with the responsibility for ensuring public safety, health, and welfare within its legal geographic boundaries.” In fact, speaking within the jurisdiction is a rule clearly indicated on the form the public must use to address the supervisors:
“If your concern is regarding an item not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board, you will be called to speak during the Public Comment – Open Time. This form must be submitted to the Clerk of the Board before the meeting begins.”
But recently, because the J.C.K. Cartel has no legal jurisdiction and therefore can’t, some of the J.C.K. Cartel supporters are getting rather frustrated with them, even calling them “treasonous” because they won’t do as MAGA liars Laura Hobbs and Supervisor Jones (both loser candidates and election deniers whose BIG LIE case recently was quickly thrown out of a Shasta County Court) wants them to do, violate legal jurisdiction and the laws of California. And with Nov. 5th on the horizon, MAGA lies, accusations, frustrations, and jurisdiction violations are increasing in the SCBOS Chambers, as well as the political temperature… Yes, it’s getting hot.
This leads me to the assault upon me reported at the Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, August 20. First, Supervisor Jones, you are a belligerent liar trying to minimize and normalize assault, as well as the J.C.K. Cartel’s racism and sexism, while skirting laws for dangerous MAGA propaganda. Mr. Jones, it was not a “poke.” It was a closed-fisted solid punch to the diaphragm; I still feel it this morning. And because you, Mr. Jones, have acute problems with truth and the law, let me help you out of your persistent, insidious ignorance. Under California Penal Code Section 240, an assault is an unlawful attempt, coupled with a present ability, to commit a violent injury to the person of another. In fact, assault under PC 240 does not require physical contact or actual injury. The essence of the crime lies in the intent and capability to inflict harm.
Mr. Jones, are you and Kelstorm still packing “wherever” you go?
What Doni and Record Searchlight reporter Damon Arthur reported about this incident is basically accurate. Directly after the event, unbeknownst to me, a county employee called the Shasta County Sheriffs to report the assault, and as I was out the door on the way to an appointment, I was asked to please wait and talk with them. I did. The officers did a thorough, by-the-book interview, gave me a case number, and stated that if I wanted to pursue the event further, I should call them. Many folks said I should file charges. Perhaps I should have so the J.C.K. Cartel would stop threatening the public and address protecting the public from violence in the future. But, I’m not filling at this time. Here’s why.
Thomas Hildebrandt and I are no more than acquaintances, yet despite our differences, we have had a few friendly dialogs on the way to our cars after SCBOS meetings. Thomas, a veteran, has disclosed that he is frustrated with the government and that he is dealing with chronic medical issues. In short, his life is not real easy. I’m worried about him. And no, I’m not suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, far from it.
I see Thomas in the same boat as many his age, including me: angry, frustrated, hurt by inflation, many are under-educated and depressed. I blame the MAGA Cult, just like Jones, Crye, and Kelstorm locally, all the way up to Trump, for fake popularism, co-opting the above conditions and using them in ways that are not in the best interest of folks like Thomas, all-to-often exasperating economic, social, physical and mental health conditions to seed, foster, nourish and propagate what is close to fascism in America, Trump, and his Project 2025.
Meanwhile, the Thomases and Gardiniers of America get worse off, so the Trumps and Elon Musks — the wealthiest 1 percent, who own more wealth than the bottom 90 percent — can dispose of what’s left of Democracy (a word Crye stated he hates) and rule not only the citizens of America but rule the world under the oppression of authoritarianism or worse.
All this said, we need doable solutions in Shasta County. Locally, we need District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert, a safe and sane Republican, to be re-elected so that Mary, Jones’ replacement Matt Plummer, and Allen Long, who will assume District 2 Supervisor Tim Garman’s seat in January, all appear to be safe and sane Republicans. Together, they can bring jurisdictional law, order and safe-sane civility back to the SCBOSD Chambers and prevent Crye from appointing Jones and Chriss Street to well-paid county positions so they can keep their dirty hands on taxpayers’ money and spread the MAGA disease of hate, division, lies, and chaos in Shasta County.
We have had enough. We’re not going back.
Thomas, I am sorry that misunderstandings led to this event. I hope you get better. Maybe one day we can talk again. Take care.
Christian Gardinier is a long-time Shasta County resident and frequent speaker at Shasta County Board of Supervisors meetings.
