Rancher Mary Rickert at home on her range.
A News Cafe invited District 3 Supervisor candidates Corkey Harmon and incumbent Mary Rickert to participate in a Q&A before the Nov. 5 election.
Today, as was the case when A News Cafe invited Rickert and Harmon to answer questions in advance of the March primary election, Rickert responded to the questions, but her challenger Harmon did not.
Therefore, because Rickert’s District 3 Q&A partner didn’t accept this opportunity (to reach more than 100,000 unique monthly visitors), Rickert gets the entire dance floor to herself, and we will proceed without Harmon.
Please join me in welcoming District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert to A News Cafe today.
Shasta County District 3 Supervisor/incumbent Mary Rickert
Doni Chamberlain: Hello, Supervisor Rickert. Thank you for taking the time to answer A News Cafe’s questions. Since Mr. Harmon is a no-show again, it looks like you have this space all to yourself. Let’s get right to some of the toughest questions. First, what is your position on the Fountain Wind Project?
Mary Rickert: I have been adamantly opposed to the proposed Fountain Wind Project since it was presented to our county for approval. As a former member of the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, I have gained the knowledge and experience needed to understand the difficulties of firefighting, and this project proposes 600-foot-tall wind turbines (as tall as Shasta Dam). Fixed wing aircraft would not be able to navigate those wind turbines to attempt to put out a catastrophic wildfire.
I am concerned about the safety and well-being of my constituents in the Round Mountain and Montgomery Creek region. In addition, the Pit River tribe is opposed to the project as it impacts the sensitive cultural ancestral grounds of their tribe. Their history needs to be respected and honored.
Chamberlain: What are your specific plans or solutions to address Shasta County’s growing unhoused population?
Rickert: The unhoused population continues to grow. It is a complex issue and continues to be a growing problem statewide. Housing is one helpful solution, and there are small housing complexes planned by the City of Redding and the Rescue Mission. Often times, mental health and substance use enters into the picture, and these issues must be addressed before stabilization can be achieved.
There needs to be a strong collaboration between the city, non-profit organizations and the county to accomplish these goals. There is currently a state program that is being organized for implementation throughout the county. I am hopeful it can provide some relief.
Years ago, as a supervisor, I worked on a proposed Navigation Center for our county. It was not supported by other board members, but I plan to revisit that approach if re-elected. It would provide the opportunity for the unhoused to enter one building, and be connected with whatever county services they might need. This will help them get into the system, with follow-up and access services. The concept is being used successfully in other counties, and I want to bring that forward once again and see if we can effectively establish a center to mitigate the homeless situation in our county.
Chamberlain: Where do you stand on Shasta County’s Election Commission, and hand-counting?
Rickert: Shasta County has had a strong history of free and fair elections. The current board majority was elected using Dominion voting machines, yet they chose to terminate the lease for the machines because they did not trust them.
Shasta County has had a good reputation for accuracy with their vote counts, as evidenced whenever a hand count was included for verification purposes. I have done extensive research on this topic and feel comfortable with using voting machines. Numerous studies have been done on hand counting, and the conclusion is that hand counting is more expensive, takes longer and has a higher error rate than with a machine.
The Shasta County Election Commission has been in existence since January of 2024. There has no substantive information produced by the commission that has been helpful for the ROV’s office. I do believe it is a waste of taxpayer’s money and should have more accountability. I am wary that some of the information they have presented to the board may expose the county to risk of litigation.
Chamberlain: Please describe your community service history.
Rickert: As a 50-year resident of Shasta County, I remember volunteering in Cottonwood when my children were quite young. I have continued that practice to this day. Communities are only as good as the people who contribute to them. It is important to me to be involved and make a difference.
I have been a 4-H leader, Parish Council member, Sober Grad Night Chair, AAUW Scholarship Chair, mentored a teen girl through the YMCA, and served on Fall River High School’s accreditation committee. One of most impactful contributions to the Intermountain Area was founding the Burney Fall River Education Foundation and represented the Intermountain Area on the Community Foundation of the North State (formerly known as the Shasta Regional Community Foundation.) On a state level I was on the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown, and was the liaison from the BOF to the Range Management Advisory Committee. I served for 10 years on the Shasta County Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board, taught the Family-to-Family course for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and was a panelist on Crisis Intervention Trainings for law enforcement, Shasta College Ag Advisory Board, and was elected to the Farm Service Agency for Shasta County.
As a Supervisor I have served on numerous boards and commissions, including, but not limited to, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Shasta Regional Transportation, LAFCO, Shasta County Economic Development Board, NORTEC, Northern California Water Association, Law Library, Community Action Board, and the Air Pollution Control Board. I was the driving force to re-establish the Shasta County Fire Safe Council, which is responsible for millions of dollars in grant funding for fuel reduction projects throughout the county.
Chamberlain: Let’s talk about guns. I know you support the 2nd Amendment, and I don’t know why it amazes me that you and your husband own three full gun cabinets.
Now that we’ve established your support of the 2nd Amendment, what are your thoughts about open carry of weapons in Shasta County? Second, do you believe citizens who wish to carry concealed weapons should apply for a CCW permit to do so? If not, why not?
Rickert: I am not in support of open carry in Shasta County. My husband and I own many guns, and I do have a CCW permit. However, I don’t think many residents would feel comfortable living in a county where open carry is allowed. It could also be a greater potential threat for law enforcement. I do believe those who wish to have access to a firearm should apply for a CCW permit. I have gone through the process, and it is in the best interest of everyone to have an educational course if that person wants to own a concealed weapon.
Chamberlain: Supervisor Rickert, because your challenger didn’t join us today, we have some extra remaining time and space. I’d like to ask you a few more questions that wouldn’t pertain to Mr. Harmon. First, are you comfortable discussing the current state of incivility present on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors?
Rickert: These are difficult times, and the contrast between when I first served on the board in 2017 compared to those serving on the board today is stark and disturbing. COVID did create a contentious environment never seen before in this country, and it still has not settled down for our board meetings. I yearn for the days when we can return to civility and seriously do the business of the people, and not focus on issues that are of interest to a select few in the county and have no real impact on improving our quality of life.
Since this campaign for the 2024 election cycle began, it has been apparent that the current board majority has tried to minimize my voice and “hijack” many serious issues I have been working on for years. A couple of examples is the allocation of the opioid settlement funds the county has received because of the efforts of former Deputy County Counsel Jim Ross. I worked with Mr. Ross on this, as well as bringing a nationally acclaimed
author to the county as a speaker to help highlight the need for opioid public awareness.
Our board at the time also was instrumental in bringing the Aegis Treatment Center to Redding in 2019. I will continue to focus on this topic. Yet instead of supporting my request to spearhead this work, the board majority has minimized my role to work on it.
Another example is the battle to eradicate illegal marijuana grows in this county. Last night for example, I spoke to a resident of Big Bend about the horrific infiltration of cartel grows into that community. I have been vocal and active with this issue since 2013 when I served on the State Board of Forestry. It is a crisis in our county, and especially in my district. Sheriff Johnson has led the effort the last few years, but he needs more support and funding to be successful.
Chamberlain: Some people have criticized you for being in favor or term limits, yet you’re running for a third term. How do you respond to those accusations?
Rickert: That is correct. In ordinary times, I would be in favor of term limits. Unfortunately, we are not experiencing ordinary times in Shasta County. I tried very hard to find someone to run for the District 3 supervisor seat, and was not successful, so I felt compelled to run. When I checked with the ROV’s office, no one had filed to run shortly before the deadline, and I wanted to be sure the voters had a choice. Ultimately, Win Carpenter filed to run, and just before the deadline, Corkey Harmon filed to run. My two opponents hold similar views with one another, views that are different from many of my views on some key issues. I saw the need to give people options to consider for their representative.
Chamberlain: Ending on a lighter note, I’m curious about the photo published here today with you surrounded by cows. I’ve heard you have quite the fondness for your livestock . What is it about cows that you love so much? Do ranching skills help with your role as a supervisor?
Rickert: There is no doubt my cows are near and dear to my heart. As a child, my family and I spent much of our time raising and showing Holsteins. I spent many days every year showing cattle up and down the state of California and we were quite successful. One year we were selected as the Premier Breeders for California. Cows are generally easy going and have a very calming effect on me. Watching the young calves frolic in the fields as the sun sets is one of my favorite things to do.
Herding cattle is an art, which I wished I could use those skills as a supervisor. I’ve tried it, but it doesn’t seem to work very well. I look forward to many more years working with and enjoying raising cattle.
Chamberlain: Is there anything else you’d like voters to know?
Rickert: I want the voters to know how much I appreciate their support. I do not consider myself a politician. I am a public servant. Shasta County is at a crossroads. District 3 is about to determine which fork in the road is taken. It’s a critical election and we need to do what’s best for all of Shasta County. Please encourage everyone you know in D3 to vote and vote like your county depends on it, because it does.
Editor’s note: To improve clarity, a portion of this post was revised at 1:43 p.m. on 10/6/24.
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