CAMPAIGN FINANCE & UNDUE INFLUENCE

In campaign finance, "local control" refers to the authority of local governments, such as cities and counties, to establish and enforce their own regulations governing campaign funding. They can do this without having to follow state or federal laws. Crye has repeatedly expressed his support for local control regarding campaign finance. During his recall election, a significant portion of the funding came from sources outside the county, completely discrediting his previous statement on local control. Out of approximately $266,000 in total donations reported as of February 2024, only $92,000 (35%) came from individuals and businesses within Shasta County. 

The Water Users Committee provided the bulk of the funds backing Crye (approximately $157,000), a Shasta County political action committee, but is overwhelmingly funded by Reverge Anselmo, a silver-spoon-born multimillionaire Hollywood mogul and former resident of Shasta County. Additionally, $16,000 was contributed by individuals and businesses situated outside the county from various locations throughout California and the United States.

The main reason the funding Crye receives for his campaign is so significant is because of undue influence. Crye puts the interests and demands of his largest donors above what is truly best for the people and the county. 

Let’s closely examine the 3 largest donors supporting Crye and the significant benefits they secured through his position on the Board of Supervisors:

1. Redding Rancheria: On July 25, 2023, amidst divided opinions, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, led by a determined Kevin Crye, cast their votes in favor of an elaborate 30-year multimillion-dollar agreement with the Redding Rancheria. This deal paves the way for a new casino and resort, to be built on tribal property situated just south of Redding. In a remarkable move, the Board approved this significant agreement while opting to WAIVE crucial reviews and approvals from the county attorney, risk management, and public safety officials. This action raised eyebrows among many community members.

Several pressing concerns were cast aside by Crye and the other board members, leading to unease among residents. Among these were the potential detrimental impacts on local agriculture, the likelihood of exacerbating traffic congestion in an area already struggling with growth, and the perception of unfair competition, particularly since the new casino would be exempt from certain taxes and regulations that local businesses must comply with. Additionally, worries about cultural and environmental degradation loom large, alongside fears of a possible uptick in crime, the damage from noise and light pollution, and the myriad social issues that often accompany gambling establishments.

Yet perhaps the most alarming aspect of this deal was the total disconnect between the Board’s actions and the voices of the very people they are elected to serve. In their haste to approve the casino project, Crye and his colleagues overlooked the critical need for community engagement, leaving many residents feeling unheard and marginalized in the decision-making process that would inevitably reshape their home.

Let’s go back to Crye’s 2022 candidate statement, where Crye declared, “I’m running because so many local people don’t feel like they’re being heard or listened to.” Following his calculated move with the Redding Rancheria deal, his campaign message now appears increasingly disingenuous and misleading, raising concerns about his true intentions.

2. Jon KnightThe Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District Board aims to inform, educate, and protect the public from diseases and plagues carried by mosquitoes and other vectors, as outlined in the Health & Safety Code. This board serves 1,110 square miles in Shasta County. A candidate for this position should be educated on vector-borne illnesses and could be an epidemiologist, medical entomologist, public health official, or specialist in infectious diseases. These professionals focus on the study, prevention, and control of diseases transmitted by vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Nonetheless, the Board of Supervisors, under the leadership of Kevin Crye, once again prioritized the influence of one of his largest campaign donors over the health and well-being of his constituents. Jon Knight was appointed to this board position despite his lack of qualifications, passing over highly qualified candidates, clearly demonstrating a preference for loyalty over merit. Not surprisingly, it was the far-right board majority who appointed Knight to the mosquito board by a 3-2 vote: Crye, Jones, and Kelstrom all voted in favor of placing Knight on the mosquito board.
But who is Jon Knight?Jon Knight is a hydroponics store owner, right-wing extremist, QAnon conspiracy theorist, and Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack attendee who was pictured holding a “white power” hand symbol on the steps of the United States Capital, an election denier, a COVID conspiracy theorist, owner and founder of Mountaintop Media that produces a slate of right-wing podcasts. Knight is the host of a “Patriot State of Mind,” along with Cottonwood militia members Carlos Zapata and Woody Clendenen.  Knight and Zapata are also co-owners of Red, White, and Blueprint, a right-wing propaganda media company that produced a docuseries in 2021 and 2022 that included misinformation and provided support for the far-right takeover of Shasta County.
Knight has no education or experience with vector-borne illnesses. However, in a Board of Supervisors meeting, Knight claimed he had extensive knowledge about pesticides and the environment, having sold pesticides for 18 years. Knight asserted that, although he hadn’t completed much research on mosquitoes and pesticides, he asserted that he possessed a wealth of knowledge about them. His confidence in this subject was palpable. However, a later investigation revealed that Knight was retailing five or six products at his hydroponics store that he did not have the proper licenses to sell. In response to this violation, those products were promptly pulled from his shelves. 

Here are some other outrageous comments made by Knight.:

• Knight claimed that Bill Gates has created mosquitoes that act as “flying syringes” to “mass vaccinate the population.”
• During a podcast, Knight said that the only reason Americans are not being forced by the government to take the COVID-19 vaccine is that “we have guns.”
• In January of 2022, Knight insisted the government was going to require Americans to be tested for Covid with anal swabs.
• Knight stated he wanted to make T-shirts honoring Ashley Babbitt (January 6th), “just like the BLM did with George Floyd.”
• Knight was part of a group that entered the back door of the Shasta County Elections Office in Redding on Election Night in 2022. Knight admitted he “bullied” his way into the County Clerk & Registrar of Voters building and was harassing the ROV.

To illustrate the extent of Crye's apparent favoritism toward his major donors, demonstrating a concerning detachment from the genuine needs of his constituents, one merely needs to look at who was vying for the same position as Knight. The far-right board members chose Knight over Donnell Ewert, a retired epidemiologist who worked as the Director of Shasta County Public Health and the Director of Shasta County Health and Human Services. Ewert has a master’s degree in public health and a bachelor’s degree in biology.
And what did Crye say when asked about voting for Knight over Ewert?  “Just because people have a piece of paper on a wall doesn’t automatically give them this great insight." He added that he was “diametrically opposed to some of the stuff, health-wise, that Donnell Ewert stood for in response to COVID.” Crye was opposed to? Or his right-wing conspiracy theorist, militia, State of Jefferson extremists DONORS were opposed to? We're just asking. 

“Do you know how that makes us look as a county? It makes us look like idiots. Outright idiots." -- Supervisor Mary Rickert after voting AGAINST Knight’s appointment  

Shasta Exposed couldn't agree more with Mary Rickert!

3. Dr. James Mu

A bit of a back story... In May of 2022, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to remove Dr. Karen Ramstrom from the position of Public Health Officer. Dr. Karen Ramstrom, the dedicated Public Health Officer, navigated the COVID-19 outbreak in Shasta County with unwavering resolve. Throughout this challenging period, she faced significant backlash from segments of the community, particularly from fervent right-wing anti-vaccine proponents who challenged her stance on mask and vaccine mandates. Despite the criticism, Dr. Ra3. mstrom's recommendations were not merely her own; they were closely aligned with the State of California’s guidelines and the evolving body of scientific research. Her decisions, although often met with hostility, were driven by a steadfast commitment to the health and well-being of the community at large. Demonstrating remarkable courage and risking her safety, she prioritized public safety even at the expense of her security (Dr. Ramstrom received death threats from the public, and a man angry about coronavirus restrictions announced Ramstrom’s home address during a Board of Supervisors meeting), ultimately leading to her dismissal. Yet, she remained steadfastly focused on what she believed was best for the community. 

After a protracted 17 months, Dr. James Mu was ultimately hired, BUT this decision came only AFTER three unsuccessful attempts to fill the position, and the County lowered the qualifications for the role. (Think about that for a moment: reducing the qualifications for a position that oversees the health of the county's residents. See document here.)

Dr. Mu is well known in the Redding medical community for his vocal opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. He has been particularly critical of the use of vaccines and masks for children, sparking considerable debate, especially among his peers in the medical community. In February 2022, Mu stood alongside 11 other physicians from Shasta County to sign a provocative “Open Letter on COVID-19.” This letter articulated their collective concerns regarding the mandates, condemning not only the imposition of vaccines but also the testing of asymptomatic individuals. They highlighted what they perceived as the detrimental physical, psychological, and social consequences of these mandates on young children. The letter encouraged the purported advantages of natural immunity and advocated for the adoption of “early treatments” as a means of preventing the disease. This bold declaration arose from a public forum held at Pathway Church in Redding, where the assembled doctors endorsed the use of alternative home remedies, such as vitamins and iodine nasal sprays, as preventive measures against COVID-19. They further promoted controversial treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, despite the broader scientific community discrediting these methods. 

Dr. Nena Perry, a colleague of Dr. Mu and a geriatrician in Redding, stated, "So I can say that he was very well taught... (but) I think he has had some issues. The COVID piece makes it very difficult regarding a public health perspective, because he was very anti-COVID vaccine." Dr. Perry continued, stating, "...he has the potential to excel in his new role, but his qualifications-- or lack thereof-- present concern. Quite honestly, he has no public health background, neither does he have an MPH (Master's Degree in Public Health) or two years of experience. And he is currently not board-certified. I think he just needs to...look at what’s good for the community as a whole." 

You read that correctly. At the time that the Board of Supervisors voted to appoint Dr. Mu, the bare minimum of qualifications was not met. Dr. Mu was not a board-certified physician. According to an A News Cafe article from July of 2024,  in his contract, Dr. Mu was "required to get board certification “from the American Board of Preventive Medicine, or certification by the American Boards of Family Practice, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, or Internal Medicine within two years of appointment.” Dr. Mu stated that he was working to obtain his Master's in Public Health. However, in the same news article, Dr. Mu said he was 

According to the Shasta County webpage,  Dr. Mu is being paid at the " C-Step salary range of $106.86 per hour or $18,522 per month/$222,264 per year in addition to other benefits." In December 2023, the Board of Supervisors, with a majority of hard-right Trump supporters, also provided Dr. Mu with a "severance package" worth up to $333,396, which Supervisor Jones claimed was intended to prevent a future non-hard-right board from terminating Dr. Mu.

For your reference: Shasta County had the LOWEST COVID-19 vaccination rate in the entire State of California. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 261 residents have died of COVID-19, a total of 690 reported deaths. 

After diving into all this information, Shasta Exposed invites you to ponder a crucial question: Was appointing Dr. Mu truly in the best interest of the people of Shasta County, or might there be hidden motives at play? You make your own decision.