A hardline conservative activist who twice lost bids to be on the Shasta County Board of Education has now set his sights on a panel that safeguards the community’s health by controlling diseases carried by mosquitos and other pests.
Richard Gallardo is one of two people vying for a seat on the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District Board.
On Tuesday, Shasta County supervisors will consider appointing Gallardo or Philip Cramer to the mosquito board through Dec. 31, 2028. Cramer just ended a four-year term as the city of Redding’s representative on the mosquito board.
The seat opened after Dave Maron’s term ended Jan. 1. Maron was one of the two county appointees to the mosquito board.
Over the past two years, even a seemingly routine appointment to the local mosquito board has become controversial and political.
In September 2023, Jon Knight, who owns a hydroponics store in Redding and co-founded Red White and Blueprint, the group that supported the recall of former District 2 Supervisor Leonard Moty, was appointed to the mosquito board.
The board’s far-right conservative majority of Kevin Crye, Chris Kelstrom and Patrick Jones voted to appoint Knight. Former Supervisors Tim Garman and Mary Rickert voted no.
But in Knight’s case, the clerk of the Board of Supervisors brought the four applications to the chair of the board, in this case Jones, who chose Knight and brought the appointment to the supervisors. Both Rickert and Garman said that they could not vote for anyone without seeing the other applications first.
But Jones is no longer a supervisor after losing his reelection bid to Matt Plummer last March. Crye and Kelstrom are still supervisors.
Gallardo lost his bid for a seat on the Shasta County Board of Education in November 2024 and November 2022.
In October 2020, Gallardo gained notoriety when during the board’s public comment period he made a citizen’s arrest on all five supervisors and then-County Counsel Rubin Cruse Jr. over COVID-19 restrictions.
The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office later determined that no crime was committed by the Board of Supervisors and did not forward the complaint to the District Attorney’s Office.
Gallardo states on his application for the mosquito board that he is a retired military member, and a former federal, state and local government employee. He also lists 18 years training as an emergency medical technician, with training in HAZMAT and infectious diseases.
Cramer, meanwhile, states he has 10 years of experience as an environmental scientist and environmental planner for the state of California. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Humboldt and qualified applicators license from the state Department of Pesticide Regulations. He also states he has six years of experience in conducting budget oversight and contract management as part of his job duties for the state.
“Invasive mosquitos capable of hosting serious diseases are currently my highest concern for our county. Public health officials (including board members) should be up to date on issues related to invasive species, emerging treatments and products available to help combat invasive species, and the implications for public health that these new products and treatments hold. Board members have an obligation to stay informed and give informed decisions,” Cramer stated under why he thinks the mosquito board is important.
Under potential conflict of interests, Cramer said his job with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has not led to any conflicts to date, and he would recuse himself from any scenario that might “pose a conflict.”
Gallardo stated being on the mosquito board is important to ensure “safe and effective measures are being implemented to complete the mission and legal mandates of the (Shasta County Mosquito and Vector Control Board).”
Gallardo doesn’t see any potential conflicts of interests if he is appointed.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
