In a special meeting Tuesday, Shasta County supervisors unanimously rebuked Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis’ actions to exclude a local media outlet from receiving press releases from the elections office.
In doing so, the board also said it would censure Curtis if he did it again.
The Oct. 14 meeting was spurred by a letter Curtis received from the First Amendment Coalition that threatened litigation over his decision to exclude Shasta Scout from the distribution of news releases sent by his office.
After hearing public comments, supervisors convened to closed session, where they spent about an hour before coming out to announce their decision via a statement from the board’s chair, Supervisor Kevin Crye.
“By a vote of 5-0, the board unanimously respects the right of the press to have free and unfettered access to public information. We condemn Mr. Curtis’ actions of excluding a member of the press, and encourage him to maintain a high level of transparency and access to information. If it occurs again, the board will move to censure,” Crye said.
The announcement drew some applause in the supervisors’ chamber from those who criticized Curtis during public comment before closed session. Seven of the eight people who spoke, were critical of the registrar of voters.
“This is insane,” Redding resident Steven Kohn told supervisors before closed session, adding what Curtis did is something that happens in China or Russia.
“Bring Mr. Curtis to the board and have him explain his actions,” Redding resident Benjamin Nowain said.
In his letter, David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, said Curtis’ decision to exclude Shasta Scout “violates the First Amendment and threatens the freedom of the press.”
Curtis’ response to the email was to stop sending press releases to all media outlets.
Assistant Registrar of Voters Brent Turner, who did attend the meeting, said afterwards that the elections office would start posting news releases on its website to ensure no media are left out.
Curtis did not attend the special meeting.
But hours after the meeting, Curtis, standing inside the elections office on Market Street, spoke to the Record Searchlight and Shasta Scout.
He said press releases were always supposed to be posted on the elections office website but the individual in charge of the site had moved out of state, suggesting that is why some of the releases might not have made it to the website.
Curtis also contended that the supervisors, in their condemnation of him, were “confused.”
“Because all they were told is that it’s a free speech issue. Well, it’s not a free speech issue,” he said.
Curtis said he stopped sending news releases to Shasta Scout because they are a 501c3 charity that takes a political stance, and that’s not right — the government can’t subsidize political speech.
Annelise Pierce, Shasta Scout’s founder and managing editor, told Curtis that her publication has not applied for 501c3 status. Shasta Scout is a nonprofit under California corporate law that operates with a fiscal sponsor that is a 501c3, she said.
Curtis was asked for specific examples of how Shasta Scout has taken political stances. He could not cite one, only saying “you seem a little left to me. … In my opinion, you’re a little left.”
He was also asked if he felt excluding Shasta Scout and then his decision to stop sending press releases to all media outlets was a disservice to the public ahead of an important election.
“Well, I’m just picking and choosing who I tell it’s (the information) out there,” Curtis said, reiterrating that the news releases should have been posted on the website.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other North State stories. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County elections chief condemned by supervisors for excluding media outlet
Reporting by David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
