Tina Peters, known for serving time for tampering with voting machines linked to the MAGA movement, recently refused a job overseeing elections in Northern California. She declined the offer because she’s busy securing elections nationwide,
according to Clint Curtis, the Shasta County registrar of voters. Peters declined Curtis’s attempt to employ her as a consultant for overseeing the upcoming election. Curtis, an outspoken election denier, confirmed Peters was considered for an advisory role. Peter Ticktin, Peters’ lawyer, stated that despite serious consideration, the role would not suit her commitments.
The prospect of hiring Peters prompted immediate criticism from Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic officials. Newsom openly ridiculed the planned appointment on social media, emphasizing Peters’ past felonies and asserting her unsuitability for public office in California.
Peters, a former Mesa County clerk from Colorado, faced conviction in 2024 for breaching county voting systems to prove election fraud against Trump. This claim faced consistent disproval in court. Released after pressure from Trump and commutation by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Peters served less than two years of her nine-year sentence.
Reports suggested Peters would function as an assistant registrar, navigating procedural hurdles in hiring. However, Brent Turner, the current assistant registrar, ensured that his position was secure, expressing relief at Peters’ decision to decline. Turner, under medical leave, shared frustrations over the unwanted public discussions concerning his health and job status. Curtis favored Turner last year but revealed wishful thinking regarding Turner’s potential retirement.
Curtis, appointed last year by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, exited office this January after losing to Joanna Francescut, a former assistant registrar he dismissed previously. His tenure faced scrutiny for questionable actions regarding ballot security, prompting investigation calls from Curtis and county authorities.