Fast Facts: Power Play - Kevin Crye's Intimidation Tactics Exposed

Transcript:

Welcome to the North State Breakdown with Benjamin Nowain. Today will be the first installment of our new series, Fast Facts. Let's discuss District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye and allegations of his misuse of power.

At the October 15th Board of Supervisor meeting, District 2 Supervisor Tim Garman alleged that Crye, who currently serves as the chair of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, appears to be using his position to manipulate and intimidate individuals for personal gain.

Concerns Raised by Shasta County Assessor Recorder Leslie Morgan

Recently, Shasta County Assessor Recorder Leslie Morgan shared her concerns about Crye's behavior. In an email to Garman, Morgan wrote that Crye's visit to her apartment was not just a simple inquiry. She described how Crye asked about his daughter's difficulty buying a home and then began questioning her staff about internal processes and property exemption values. But it didn't stop there. Morgan noted that Crye asked if any of her staff had concerns or issues to report, offering:

This type of behavior suggests that Crye might be fishing for information, possibly to use it to his advantage. Leslie Morgan herself called his actions inappropriate, describing them as an attempt to leverage his influence.

Concerns from Shasta County Superintendent of Schools Mike Freeman

Then there's the case involving Shasta County Superintendent of Schools Mike Freeman. In an email dated September 16th, 2024, Freeman expressed his discomfort with how Crye handled their meeting. The meeting took place on August 28th, one day after Crye, Jones, and Kellstrom decided to delay approval of a contract renewal for the Shasta County Office of Education's Community Connect program.

Instead of focusing on the matter at hand, Crye came to the meeting prepared to pitch his own Ascend program, a personal business venture. Freeman, in his email, highlighted how the timing feels like a potential conflict of interest. Freeman clearly felt that the optics of discussing Crye's personal project directly after a county vote was troubling.

Crye’s Reaction After the October 15th Meeting

Crye's behavior didn't end there. In a post-board meeting discussion on October 15th, 2024, Crye attempted to control the narrative surrounding the board's decisions and responded to criticisms from Supervisor Rickert and Garman.

This reaction further underscores Crye's willingness to manipulate the public's perception to suit his interests. Incidents paint a concerning picture of Supervisor Crye allegedly using his position not to serve the community, but to further his own interests and put pressure on county employees.

Morgan describes feeling frustrated over what seemed like a fishing expedition from Crye, and Freeman openly worried about the conflict of interest. This suggests Crye may be involved in a larger pattern of misconduct.

If you work for Shasta County or have had dealings with Supervisor Crye, the North State Breakdown is willing to work with you anonymously if you wish to report information.

You can send emails to northstatebreakdown@gmail.com or send a text message or call us at 530-638-2243.

For those of us in Shasta County, this raises important questions about ethics and the proper use of power. If our elected officials are using their positions to intimidate staff and promote their businesses, how can we trust our elected officials to do what's right for the community? It's time for accountability, and we as a community must demand better.

And that’s a Fast Fact.