Shasta elections chief runs November vote after probes found he threatened staff
Two personnel investigations, one by Shasta County and one by a third-party investigator, substantiated misconduct by Clerk and Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis against elections staff, including verbal abuse, threats of violence and retaliation. On Aug. 11, 2026 the Board of Supervisors censured him 3-1. After losing the June election to Joanna Francescut, Curtis fired her from her job in his office (she has sued), claimed mail-in ballots looked, felt and smelled wrong, and locked 2024 and 2026 ballots in a room later sealed by the FBI. The county publicly condemned his claims and asked state and federal agencies to investigate him. On Sept. 9 the UCLA Voting Rights Project asked the civil grand jury to start removal proceedings; it had not responded. Curtis denies the findings and is running the November 2026 election.
I had facilities put this lock on and destroy the keys,
Curtis fired Francescut, who's since sued, alleging wrongful termination.
Says the allegations against him are false and that he is thrilled the FBI is investigating.
No outcome recorded yet.