Who's replacing Shasta County's top elections official? What to know about special meeting

Yahoo

27-03-2025

The Shasta Board of Supervisors called a special meeting on Thursday afternoon to talk about the suddenly open position of county clerk and registrar of voters now that Tom Toller says he's stepping down at the end of April.
Toller told supervisors he will retire in five weeks due to medical issues. County officials will start vetting possible successors soon, Shasta County spokesperson David Maung said in Tuesday's announcement about Toller's retirement.
Posting of the agenda on the county website on Wednesday, the day before the special meeting, prompted planned demonstrations at Redding City Hall by those who oppose the board's hard right majority's take on election processes and reform.
Here's when the meeting takes place, what the agenda says and why a Shasta County activist says she's organizing a demonstration.
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The special meeting of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, March 27 in the Redding City Council Chambers at 777 Cypress Ave.
See links to the agenda and a list of future meetings at shastacounty.gov/board-supervisors/page/meetings-agendas.
According to the agenda, the purpose of the meeting is to 'Consider options related to the vacancy of the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters position and consider providing direction to staff.'
It also says, 'Simple Majority Vote,' but it's unclear from the agenda's wording if the board plans to appoint someone at that time.
Questions about the board's role in appointing Toller's replacement, when that will happen and who is in the running came up in public comments at last Tuesday's regular supervisors meeting.
At that time, the board didn't announce candidates. Supervisor Kevin Crye rebuffed questions from a Record Searchlight reporter who attended the meeting.
More: Shasta elections official retiring months into job, raising question of who will fill role
Shortly after the county posted the special meeting agenda on Wednesday, Community activist Jenny O'Connell-Nowain said she started organizing a demonstration, slated to start just before 4 p.m. at Redding City Hall. She and her husband, Bejamin Nowain, produce North State Breakdown, which she describes as an informational website and social media account promoting transparency in North State government.
The demonstration is 'not a protest as much as a 'we see you'" statement and call for transparency, said O'Connell-Nowain, who fears supervisors hear mostly from people who support far-right election reform agendas, like hand counting and same day voting requirements. She's concerned the board will appoint someone of a similar mind, she said: Like former Supervisor Patrick Jones, or Laura Hobbs, who unsuccessfully sued the elections office after she lost the 2024 District 2 supervisor primary race. O'Connell-Nowain said she hopes the demonstration lets supervisors know there are Shasta County constituents who would oppose those appointments.
While she rejects conservative election reform agendas, she has no political party preference, O'Connell-Nowain said. Party members on both sides of the aisle tend to stereotype and "demonize" each other, rather than have 'constructive conversations,' she said.
Toller delivered a letter of resignation to supervisors on Monday, according to a press release issued by the county.
He'll retire on April 29, less than 10 months into his tenure at the elections office.
'I regret to inform you that I have been struggling with a serious illness for some months now. Based on the advice of my doctors, it has become clear to me that I cannot both focus on my health and continue to serve the citizens of Shasta County with vigor and undivided attention," Toller said in the press release.
Supervisors appointed Toller last June to serve out the rest of longtime clerk Cathy Darling Allen's term, which ends in January 2027.
Toller took the seat vacated in May 2024 by Darling Allen, who also cited medical reasons for her departure. In doing so, he became a central figure in heated conflict over election reform issues, including hand-counting ballots, identification requirements for voters and same day voting.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County clerk, registrar of voters: Search to replace Tom Toller