11:30 p.m. update:
The current unofficial District 2 recall election results reveal potentially sobering numbers for District 2 Supervisor Leonard Moty and his supporters: 52.78 percent of the precincts voted for the recall, while 47.22 percent voted against it.
However, early election results are called “unofficial” for a reason. At the moment, the results are too close and too soon to call.
Late Tuesday night Shasta County Clerk/Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen said that come Thursday her office will release the number of ballots they have on hand to add to the count. She added that her department also needs to complete at least one additional update to include provisional ballots.
Taking all those potential untallied votes into account could result in final official numbers that could flip the results against the recall and in Moty’s favor.
Tuesday evening’s updates are provided below.
10:11 p.m. updates: 100 percent of the precincts reporting
Yes: 52.78%
No: 47.22%
Dale Ball: 36.24%
Tim Garman: 35.54%
Tony Hayward: 17.78%
Tarick Mahmoud: 10.44%
9:29 p.m. updates: 60.87% of precincts reporting
Yes: 51.04%
No: 48.96%
Dale Ball: 36.13%
Tim Garman: 34.54%
Tony Hayward 18.54%
Tarick Mahmoud: 10:78%
8:15 p.m.
Yes: 49.07%
No: 50.93%
From 5,561 mail-in ballots.
Candidates:
Dale Ball: 36.69%
Tim Garman: 32.17%
Tony Hayward: 19.92%
Tarick Mahmoud: 11:23%
###
It was quiet and peaceful at Placer and Market streets in downtown Redding this morning. A chilly breeze stirred the air. The sun shone bright and warm. Stop-and-go traffic flowed without incident.
Unsuspecting travelers just passing through would never guess what a pressure-cooker of a city they were in, or how much was at stake for the entire county on this very day, or what important work was being done in the Shasta County Elections Department, a stone’s throw from the downtown intersection.
The first clue that something was different from any other town on any other morning was found high against a cloudless blue sky, where a bright yellow banner fluttered behind a helicopter that read: RECALL SHASTA.
That banner was dragged all over Redding. To outsiders, “recall Shasta” might sound sweetly nostalgic. For example, recall Shasta County’s former days of community pride and togetherness.
With a backdrop of Shasta County snow-capped hillsides, a Recall Shasta banner was dragged by a helicopter around Redding, including where it was captured in this photo near Hilltop Drive. Photo courtesy of Scott Hamilton.
To insiders against the recall, “recall Shasta” is destruction personified.
The second clue that something was out of the ordinary was found on the south-east corner of Placer and Market. There, Tarick Mahmoud sat behind a 4-foot Costco plastic folding table. Behind him was a campaign sign adorned with his mini-me-sized image. He was there to answer questions, anything. Just ask him.
Mahmoud is one of four opportunistic men who hope to benefit if the recall passes, in which case the challenging candidate with the most votes will win a seat from a baseless recall.
In addition to Mahmoud, the other challengers are Tim Garman, Dale Ball and Tony Hayward.
Despite what was happening outside the Elections Department, all day, since early this morning in downtown Redding, Shasta County election workers labored to ensure the District 2 recall election process proceeded fairly and uneventfully. Their goal: a successful, drama-free delivery of accurate results.
Downstairs inside the Shasta County Elections Department the quiet was only broken occasionally by the calm, murmured employee voices behind the counter, waiting to help the public with their ballot questions.
The lobby remained mostly empty, except for the periodical appearance of a man or woman who walked through the front door to hand-deliver a large envelope that contained their ballot.
A sign taped to the door requested people please wear face coverings. Some visitors complied; others didn’t.
Outside, every few minutes someone dropped a ballot in the clearly marked Official Ballot Drop Box.
Upstairs, more staff continued the business of processing the District 2 recall election ballots.
A few volunteer citizen observers were on hand to ensure the recall election process went smoothly.
What a contrast the election department’s organized, professional process is when compared to more than a year of pro-and-con recall rancor, upheaval, threats of violence and division that’s torn apart every possible Shasta County entity; from families, friendships and schools, to businesses, neighborhoods and even church congregations.
After so much strife and angst on both sides of the recall issue for so long, today is that day of possible relief when Shasta County citizens are one step closer to finally learning whether District 2 Supervisor Leonard Moty will retain his seat, or whether the recall will pass, and one of four challengers will take over Moty’s chair.
For those who want the recall, they see a win as the start of “taking back” Shasta County, and a return to rootin’ tootin’ old-timey, antigovernment, pro-gun, anti-vax, Wild West values.
Carlos Zapata and Woody Clendenen (bottom right) in the opening scene at the “Clendenen Ranch” depicted in Red, White and Blueprint’s latest episode, “Change”.
For those against the recall, they see the passage of the recall as the beginning of the end of Shasta County’s civility, security, sanity and safety. Cue the resignation letters and moving vans.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
This morning, according to elections department staff, it had been a slow election day so far today. In fact, in some of District 2’s precincts it was hours before the first voter appeared to cast a ballot.
Monday evening, it was reported that out of more than 21,000 registered voters in District 2, Shasta County’s Elections Department had received about 6,700 completed ballots.
Of course, Cathy Darling Allen, Shasta County Clerk and Registrar of Voters, is aware of the most pressing question of all that eludes an immediate answer: Will the recall pass or will it fail? Darling Allen smiled and said she never “calls” elections. She will wait for the final “official” findings.
Until then, it’s a waiting game. The polls officially close at 8 p.m., and election workers will work late into the night as they process ballots. Even so, the ultimate tabulation won’t be complete until all the ballots are counted, which includes the in-person ballots, the mailed-in ballots, those collected from drop boxes, and those “challenged” ballots with missing signatures, or those with signatures that don’t appear to match, all of which will be verified by election employees.
The election will be decided based upon which side gets more than 50 percent of the votes.
Some deliveries take longer than others. It could take days or even weeks before we know the recall election’s ultimate results.
It’s been a long, painful, ugly political gestation period here in Shasta County that’s lasted more than a year. The entire county is exhausted and anxious to move beyond the recall. We’re long overdue for peace and tranquility.
In the end, no matter how things turn out, one way or another thousands of people will be either disappointed or elated.
In the meantime, right now, Shasta County is like a mammoth maternity waiting room with tens of thousands of expectant citizens wondering what we’ll end up with. It could be good. It could be bad.
How you define good or bad depends upon which side you’re on. Me? I’m against the recall. I stand with Leonard Moty.
Will the election yield a smooth delivery with a happy outcome that’s good for Shasta County, or will it be a traumatic breech birth that produces something ugly and awful and takes a lifetime of recovery to get over?
Oh, baby. Hang onto your hats. It could get rough before we know one way or another.
We’ll keep you posted. Stay tuned for updates.
###
