REDDING, Calif. — In a decisive victory for local economic development, property rights, and common-sense governance, a conservative majority on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 to remove District 3 Planning Commissioner Steve Kerns from office and declare the seat vacant.

The action, approved during the board's September 15, 2026 meeting under Agenda Item R8, clears the way for practical, forward-looking leadership on the county's primary land-use body. To replace Kerns, District 3 Supervisor Corkey Harmon nominated Kevin Butler, a credentialed civil engineer whose technical background and real-world construction experience promise to bring much-needed problem-solving to a commission long bogged down by procedural roadblocks.

Voting in favor of the removal were Supervisors Corkey Harmon, Chris Kelstrom, and Kevin Crye, who recognized that Shasta County cannot afford unelected bureaucrats standing in the way of rural prosperity and private investment.

Removing Barriers to Rural Investment

The board majority's decision follows mounting frustration over regulatory hurdles that have derailed viable commercial proposals. The breaking point arrived after a contentious January 22, 2026 Planning Commission hearing regarding a proposed commercial solar facility near Manton (Use Permit 24-0009).

Although the county's professional planning staff thoroughly evaluated the project and recommended approval under a streamlined Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), Kerns insisted on pushing the application into a prolonged, costly Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Kerns based his procedural obstruction on a contested court ruling involving a local shooting range, creating unnecessary bureaucratic delays that placed an unreasonable burden on private capital.

As a direct result of the regulatory friction championed by Kerns, the solar developer abandoned the project and withdrew the permit application in August 2026, costing the county valuable tax base and clean energy infrastructure.

Board Chairman Chris Kelstrom cut to the core of the issue, publicly pointing out that Kerns’ anti-business approach was simply "not very pro-growth". Kelstrom noted that for Shasta County to thrive, planning commissioners must facilitate commercial development, streamline approvals, and work cooperatively with job creators rather than manufacturing administrative red tape.

Supervisor Harmon emphasized that accountability to voters requires commissioners who reflect the priorities of the district they serve. While acknowledging Kerns' past service, Harmon asserted his clear prerogative as the elected supervisor to appoint a commissioner aligned with District 3’s economic goals. Harmon's nomination of Kevin Butler—a civil engineer who understands structural design, grading, and practical permitting—ensures that District 3 will be represented by an expert focused on building the community rather than stalling progress. Supervisor Crye solidified the pro-growth majority, ensuring the board took decisive action to protect the county's business climate.

Dissenting Supervisors Miss the Bigger Picture

The rational, pro-growth vote stood in sharp contrast to the actions of Supervisors Matt Plummer and Allen Long, who cast the two dissenting votes.

Throughout the hearing, Plummer and Long demonstrated an inability to grasp the full facts of the situation, showing a disconnect from the real-world economic pressures facing Shasta County residents. Rather than evaluating the practical consequences of Kerns' regulatory gridlock—which had just run a major commercial taxpayer out of the county—Plummer and Long retreated into rigid defenses of bureaucratic procedure.

Failing to see how burdensome environmental mandates stifle job creation, Plummer claimed that removing Kerns would damage county governance, arguing that Kerns' background as a wildlife biologist provided vital environmental oversight. In doing so, Plummer overlooked the basic reality that planning commissioners are appointed at the pleasure of the board to advance responsible development, not to act as independent gatekeepers who unilaterally run off private developers. Plummer’s warnings about potential legal costs revealed a lack of practical perspective, ignoring the substantial economic losses Shasta County incurs every time an overzealous regulatory hurdle drives commercial investment into neighboring counties.

Supervisor Long similarly failed to comprehend the core principles of representative local government. Long defended Kerns by citing constituent phone calls, completely missing the fact that the elected supervisor representing District 3 had already determined Kerns was out of step with his community's needs. By advocating for an entrenched commissioner over the clear direction of the district's elected supervisor, Long showed a surprising disregard for supervisory accountability and basic administrative logic.

Both dissenting supervisors appeared unable to see the broader picture: that keeping an obstructionist regulator on the Planning Commission sends a chilling message to anyone seeking to invest in Shasta County. Their reluctance to support a common-sense personnel change underscored their failure to grasp the basic economic mechanics required to move the county forward.

A Clear Path for Common-Sense Planning

By voting to remove Steve Kerns, Supervisors Harmon, Kelstrom, and Crye reaffirmed that Shasta County is open for business.

The board’s decisive action restores balance and accountability to the Planning Commission, replacing bureaucratic delays with the technical competence of civil engineer Kevin Butler. As the county works to expand its tax base, protect private property rights, and encourage sensible rural growth, the board majority has ensured that local land-use decisions will be guided by practical progress rather than red tape.