Episode 29 - The Skeletons in Corkey Harmon's Campaign

This week, The North State Breakdown looks underneath the hood of District 3 candidate Corkey Harmon’s campaign. From Harmon's ties to far-right figures and potential conflicts of interest to a shocking fentanyl overdose at his ranch, this episode uncovers truths to give the community, especially District 3 voters, the information they need to be informed as election day approaches.

Transcript:

Welcome to The North State Breakdown with Benjamin Nowain. Today, I'd like to discuss District 3 candidate Corkey Harmon. On the surface, Harmon's campaign would seem fairly standard fare.

I’d like to break down Corkey's past and connections, including those of some current board members.

Corkey Harmon has claimed not to be closely associated with District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye. In an interview with Shasta Scout, Corkey said:

However, Corkey has been seen talking to Kevin Crye at multiple board meetings, and Crye has campaigned for Corkey from the dais.

This is ironic, considering Crye's own statement from August of 2023, where he said:

Crye was referring to his allegations of financial mismanagement against the District Attorney. In the end, it was Crye who should have felt embarrassed. The DA was exonerated.

Patrick Jones admitted to destroying the letter from the attorney general, and new policies regarding the handling of state correspondence were implemented.

Far-Right Extremism and Social Media Scrubbing

Corkey Harmon has been deeply involved in the far-right extremist movement in Shasta County, with notable connections to figures like Patrick Jones and Carlos Zapata through their involvement with the Red, White, and Blueprint documentary. Harmon has also been seen working closely with Carlos Zapata, a controversial leader within the movement.

Photos have surfaced showing these interactions, and Harmon's own social media history reflected these ties to this extremist group. However, recognizing the growing scrutiny of these associations, Corkey has recently wiped his social media profiles, potentially in an attempt to distance himself from this troubling narrative. His involvement with these individuals raises concerns about the influence of far-right extremism in local politics.

Social Media and First Amendment Concerns

On Corkey Harmon's election campaign social media page, he has consistently posted advertisements and updates about his candidacy. However, it has been revealed that members of the community, particularly the press—myself included—have been blocked from accessing his posts. This raises concerns about potential violations of the First Amendment, which prohibits viewpoint discrimination in public forums.

In Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump (2019), the court ruled that public officials cannot block users from social media accounts used for official purposes, as it violates free speech protections. Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, explained the significance of the ruling:

Similarly, in Davidson v. Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (2017), the court found that blocking constituents on a public official’s Facebook page infringed on their First Amendment rights. Harmon's actions could similarly restrict the public's access to important political information and prevent them from engaging in the political process.

Blocking the press or constituents based on their viewpoints not only raises transparency issues, but could also be considered a violation of the constitutional principles regarding free speech and the right to petition the government.

Harmon's Ties to the Current Board Majority

Harmon's connection to the current board majority became even more evident during a recent Get Out the Vote rally. District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom said at the rally:

Further highlighting their relationship, during a fundraiser held on October 11, 2024, comments indicated that both Chris and Kevin were present. This doesn’t quite align with Corkey’s earlier claim of not knowing Kevin well.

The League of Women Voters Debate

Corkey Harmon's lack of preparedness became even clearer during the League of Women Voters debate against incumbent Mary Rickert. When asked about Measures P and Q—proposed additions to the county's charter—Harmon expressed support without even knowing what they were. During the debate, he stated:

When prompted by the moderator, Harmon responded:

These measures are significant as they take effect in January 2025, and Corkey’s lack of knowledge about them speaks volumes about his readiness for office.

The GOP Nomination and Controversial Hand Count

Moving from debates to endorsements, Corkey Harmon received the local GOP nomination for the District 3 seat. However, the process itself raises serious concerns. Reportedly, 16 votes were cast, with 15 in favor of Harmon and 1 for Rickert. When individuals started discussing who voted for whom, discrepancies emerged, suggesting that votes may not have been properly counted.

Win Carpenter, who previously ran for the District 3 seat, was involved in the hand count, according to private polling, three votes should have gone to Mary Rickert. This begs the question: if the local GOP cannot properly hand count 16 votes with certainty, how can they expect to securely hand count an entire election?

Moreover, it's critical to note that many members of the local GOP are associated with extremist factions in Shasta County—groups pushing a far-right agenda that alienates even traditional conservatives.

The Fountain Wind Project and Potential Conflict of Interest

Shifting to policy issues, District 3 constituents have repeatedly voiced their opposition to the Fountain Wind Project, a position Mary Rickert has taken in multiple votes. However, Corkey Harmon has publicly spoken in favor of the project, saying:

Corkey continued:

Not only does this contradict the wishes of his potential constituents, but it raises ethical concerns. As someone with direct financial stakes in construction, Corkey could personally benefit if the project moves forward while he is in office.

The Cove Road Project and Harmon's Business Interests

This brings us to Corkey's business interests. Harmon runs multiple companies, including Stimpel-Wiebelhaus, a construction company that has previously secured contracts with Shasta County. Corkey said he would recuse himself from any votes that could present a conflict of interest, but the reality of such a scenario is much more complicated.

The Cove Road project, for instance, was recently awarded to Harmon’s company while he was actively running for office. It’s unethical for Corkey to be bidding on county contracts while campaigning, especially with possible implications of favor trading with a current board majority. California government code sections such as 1090 and 87100 restrict elected officials from benefiting financially from contracts made by the boards they sit on.

Corkey seems to be dangerously close to crossing that line.

The Fentanyl Overdose Scandal

There doesn't seem to be much of a reason for Corkey to be so ill-prepared. He’s attempted to run for office before—14 years ago—against then-incumbent Les Baugh of District 5. During that campaign, Harmon stated on Free Fire Radio:

Well, it appears there is, in fact, something in Corkey's closet. Or rather Corkey's bathroom.

On May 1, 2024, there was a fentanyl overdose death at Corkey Harmon’s ranch in Palo Cedro. The decedent was found in the bathroom at Harmon’s ranch, with drug paraphernalia on his person. The toxicology report confirmed the presence of fentanyl, alcohol, oxycontin, cocaine, and more.

Shockingly, this death has not been reported by any local news outlet. One has to wonder why. Was this omission due to Harmon’s candidacy? It’s been over five months since the incident, and voters have a right to know.

With ballots already mailed out and early voting underway, this is crucial information for District 3 residents who deserve transparency from their prospective leaders.

And that’s The Breakdown.