Shasta College instructor eyes seat on Redding City Council
Sean Longoria
James Crockett had no intention of running for City Council last year when he started attending meetings a year ago.
"I teach econ and government for the high school district. …I was always telling my students that they can change the world, to get involved, go out and vote — tried to really motivate them," he said Tuesday. "As you can imagine, high school students are a little bit unmotivated. So, I said I can't tell them to do that and not myself, go and show up, and so I started showing up."
But the 36-year-old Shasta College professor and high school teacher said he's ready to pitch in now. He's seeking one of three seats on the dais up for election in November.
"I could sit back for 10 years and build a political network and jump in when it's the right time — it's kind of like having a kid, right? You're never ready to have a kid, you've just got have one. If you wait until you're ready, it's not going to happen," he said. "I figure there are a lot of people in Redding that do the same thing. They want to wait around until it's the right time. Now is the right time to get involved and do something."
Crockett, who's married and has three young children, moved to Redding in 2010 from Wyoming and obtained a master's degree in education from Simpson University. He teaches high school and college students at Shasta College, where he's also a member of the school's academic senate and a regular attendee at board meetings, he said.
"I've never looked back, I've never regretted it. Redding has been good to me," he said of his decision to move to the city. "I'm not necessarily looking to give back, I'm looking to give something new, take things in a new direction. I'm sure the future I want is the future everybody else wants. I'm willing to put the work in and I'm sure other people are too."
To Crockett, that future is one where parents can take small children on the Sacramento River Trail and not worry about being accosted; where parents can also hand a 16-year-old keys to a car and not worry about the crowd they'll fall into; and where people can find the help they need for any problem because the community cares.
"Put us on the cover of US News or whatever as a top U.S. city. That's the future I want. I think it will take some work but I don't think it's an unreasonable dream," he said.
Public safety is Crockett's top focus, but he also wants to focus on promoting business and economic development, he said. He's pleased with the direction the city is heading but said more can be done.
"I think more calls need to be made. I think more people who are maybe not necessarily in agreement on some topics but can agree that we want a safer city, they need to get together and chat."
Crockett's candidacy brings to four the number of people who've announced their intentions to run for City Council.
Mayor Kristen Schreder and Vice Mayor Francie Sullivan, who survived a heated recall attempt last year, have said they're running for re-election.
Erin Resner, co-owner of the local Dutch Bros. Coffee franchise, also plans to run.
Councilman Brent Weaver, elected in 2014 alongside Schreder and Sullivan, announced Monday he's not seeking re-election in the fall.
The seats will go to the candidates who get the top three vote tallies.
Candidates can officially begin filing nomination papers with the city over the summer, though exact dates haven't been set, according to the Redding City Clerk's Office.
More on 2018 election
Dutch Bros.' co-owner Erin Resner running for City Council
Weaver won't seek re-election to Redding council in November
Schreder, Sullivan putting recall behind them as mayor, vice mayor