Shasta's longtime Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen to retire, cites health concerns

Shasta County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen will retire in May after two decades in office.

In a letter to Shasta County residents published in a news release on Friday afternoon, Darling Allen said she has been diagnosed with heart failure.

“An essential part of recovering from this diagnosis is stress reduction. As many election officials could probably tell you right now, that’s a tough ask to balance with election administration in the current environment. I feel strongly that my family must be my priority at this time. They have already sacrificed so much, and I must repay that investment by retiring and focusing on my health,” she stated in the letter.

Darling Allen has often disagreed with the Shasta County Board of Supervisors far-right majority since it voted last January to terminate the county’s contract with Dominion Voting Systems.

The controversial action launched a months-long crusade by the board’s majority to eliminate voting machines and get the county to hand count all ballots in local elections.

It also brought national attention to Shasta County and at times drove supervisors’ meetings into further chaos and rancor.

The county’s attempt to hand count ballots was thwarted by the state when Gov. Gavin Newsom last October signed a law that bans the manual tally of ballots in all but the smallest counties.

District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones, who chaired the board when the law was signed, vowed to sue to the state over the law.

But to date, there has been no lawsuit, and the county used Hart machines to county ballots in the Nov. 7 special election.

Darling Allen will continue to serve the county as clerk and registrar voters through the March 5 election and post-election period.

More: What would happen if Shasta County opts for hand-counting ballots? We asked these experts.

She said her office remains focused and getting ready for the election, which has a loaded ballot, with a three supervisor seats up for grabs, a potential recall of District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye and two local measures — one on term limits for supervisors and on the other on whether Shasta should become a charter county.

Darling Allen said she anticipates her last day to be May 5.

“I want to say thank you for your confidence and support of me and the Shasta County Clerk’s Office. It’s been a privilege to facilitate your votes, marriages, travel, and business — and to have done so honestly, transparently, and in compliance with state and federal laws,” Darling Allen said in the news release.

Darling Allen has proven to be a popular clerk and registrar of voters. She won reelection in June 2022, garnering nearly 70% of the vote.

“I have served with a group of extremely competent and prepared professionals, and I have every confidence in them. I hope you will share your generous spirit of support with these dedicated public servants as they continue their excellent work,” Darling Allen said.

The news release did not say who would assume Darling Allen's role on an interim basis or how her permanent replacement will be chosen.

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 stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County's top election official to retire, cites health concerns