Recall supporters start gathering signatures on Tuesday to oust Shasta Supervisor Crye
Shasta County District 1 residents attempting to recall Supervisor Kevin Crye say they will start gathering signatures on Tuesday evening, shortly before the supervisors' meeting begins.
The Committee to Recall Kevin Crye announced Monday that its recall petition was approved by the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters office.
“To highlight the start of the signature gathering phase, the Committee to Recall Kevin Crye will be holding a petition-signing event in front of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors Chambers at 1450 Court St. … at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday,” the committee said in a news release.
Supporters will need at least 4,151 signatures from registered voters in District 1, which encompasses much of the city of Redding, to put the recall on the Nov. 7 ballot. You have to live in District 1 to sign the petition.
Today’s supervisors meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Crye has called the attempt to recall him just four months after he took office an effort by a small group of far-left liberals because of a difference of opinion.
“Let’s be clear, these would-be recallers are knowingly working to recall me so that (Gov.) Gavin Newsom can select his own extreme leftist Shasta County Supervisor. I am a proud conservative, husband and father. You will not defeat Shasta County,” Crye stated in part on his reply notice he filed with the elections office.
Committee spokesman Jeff Gorder has said the recall is a non-partisan effort backed by Democrats, Republicans and independents.
Voter statistics show that Republicans dominate District 1. There are 9,073 registered Republicans compared to 5,382 Democrats. No-Party Preference is third with 4,306 registered voters.
Gorder has said they are attempting to recall Crye based on his actions, not a difference of opinion.
For example, Crye’s decision to join Supervisors Patrick Jones and Chris Kelstrom to terminate Shasta County’s contract with Dominion Voting Systems and develop a process to hand count all votes was reckless and to date has cost Shasta County more than $1.5 million, recall supporters say.
The recall attempt marks the second time in two years that a group has attempted to recall a sitting supervisor.
In the first case, District 2 Supervisor Leonard Moty was successfully recalled in February 2022. Tim Garman was selected by voters to replace the longtime supervisor and retired city of Redding police chief.
Should Crye be recalled, it will not be the voters who pick his replacement. A new state law that went into effect in January gives the governor’s office the job of selecting his temporary replacement.
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 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Committee: Petition to recall Shasta County Supervisor Crye approved
