A Background That Raises More Questions Than Confidence

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Origins and schooling

Publicly available biographical information indicates that Curtis was born in 1958 in Salem, Illinois. His candidate materials report undergraduate studies at Illinois State University (B.S., political science) and prior attendance at Illinois Wesleyan University. He also notes short periods of study at Cambridge (UK) and McGeorge School of Law as visiting or non-degree coursework. His law degree (J.D.) was completed later in life at Barry University’s Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando. (Vote Smart, n.d.).

Barry Law’s standing and record

According to public accreditation history, Barry Law obtained provisional ABA approval in 2002 and full accreditation in December 2006, following efforts documented in contemporaneous reporting. (Pudlow, 2001; 2002; 2007; Curry, 2006).

Barry University’s publicly posted “student achievements” dashboard reflects bar-pass outcomes below statewide averages in several recent years (e.g., 59% in 2020; 56% in 2017; 42% in 2018), and the Florida Board of Bar Examiners publishes comparative data for each exam cycle. (Barry University, n.d.; Florida Supreme Court/FBBE, 2025). These statistics place Barry among Florida’s lower-performing law schools on bar passage, though graduates nevertheless obtain licensure and practice throughout the state.

Pre-law and early employment

Prior to and around his legal education, Curtis worked as a programmer/contractor in Florida, including with Yang Enterprises, Inc. (YEI), a company that held government contracts with entities such as FDOT and NASA. Reporting at the time identified his role at YEI and referenced disputes regarding later claims made about that period. The reporting noted both Curtis’s allegations and contemporaneous denials by individuals associated with YEI. (Poulsen, 2004).

JoinCalifornia’s candidate biography similarly lists 2001–2002 employment with the Florida Department of Transportation, reflecting a career path rooted in technology and public-sector contracting. (JoinCalifornia, n.d.).

Law practice—focus and scope

Publicly available firm descriptions and third-party business listings indicate that Curtis has primarily operated a civil practice focused on business law, real estate, and general civil matters in Florida. Available directories and the firm’s own marketing materials emphasize these service areas rather than election litigation or election administration. (Curtis & Associates, n.d.; BBB, n.d.; Law Offices of Clint Curtis & Associates—Facebook, n.d.).

There is no public record indicating that election-law litigation formed a significant portion of the practice’s docket.

Congressional campaigns

Curtis has pursued elected office multiple times. He ran for Congress in Florida’s 24th Congressional District in 2006 and 2008, and in the 6th District in 2020. In 2006, he sought relief under the Federal Contested Elections Act after losing the race, but the U.S. House dismissed the challenge. (House Report 110-176, 2007; JoinCalifornia, n.d.; Ballotpedia, 2020).

Allegations regarding Tom Feeney

Curtis is publicly associated with statements alleging that then-Speaker Tom Feeney requested vote-flipping software circa 2000. Wired and other outlets documented both Curtis’s sworn statements and strong denials from Feeney and others, while also noting factual disputes such as whether Palm Beach County used touch-screen voting in 2000. No court or official body has issued a finding validating or disproving the allegation. (Poulsen, 2004; Aaronson, 2005).

Shasta County appointment context

Prior to his appointment, Curtis described international election-related experience in public settings. Reporting from SFGate notes that when asked during the hiring process to provide specific dates and references for claimed overseas work, he responded in general terms and declined to provide contact information. (Sosa & LaFever, 2025).

Reporting also states that he characterized his legal practice and advocacy work as involving election integrity, though when asked later for specific examples, he did not supply client names or project details and instead referenced the need for transparency and access to source code. (Sosa & LaFever, 2025).

Two supervisors who opposed the appointment expressed reservations during public proceedings. Supervisor Allen Long stated concerns relating to unanswered employment-date questions and background-check information; Supervisor Matt Plummer highlighted support for a longtime local elections administrator. (Sosa & LaFever, 2025; Green, 2025).

Following the 3–2 appointment decision, local coverage described Curtis as a self-identified election-system skeptic without prior elections-administration experience. Shortly after taking office, he separated from employment the deputy registrar, who had served for 17 years. (Anguiano, 2025; Sosa, 2025a; 2025b; Pierce, 2025).

Administrative proposals and reactions

Subsequent local reporting indicates that Curtis has advanced transparency-focused proposals—such as expanded livestreaming of ballot handling—while critics and some public officials have questioned whether these initiatives meaningfully support core statutory obligations, including chain-of-custody controls, staffing, audits, and compliance procedures. (Sosa, 2025c).

Summary of publicly documented background

Education and training: A J.D. earned later in career from a law school with historically below-average bar-pass outcomes—not inherently disqualifying, but notable in discussions about legal training relevant to public administration. (Barry University; n.d.; Florida Supreme Court / Florida Board of Bar Examiners, 2025).

Professional focus: A record primarily in civil practice (business/real estate), rather than election law or elections administration.

Public service and conduct: A tenure so far marked by notable staffing changes and debate about proposed election-process transparency measures. (Sosa, 2025a; 2025b; 2025c; Green, 2025; Pierce, 2025).

Public records and reporting do not establish wrongdoing. They do reflect differing perspectives among local officials and ongoing debate regarding qualifications, experience, and administrative strategy during a period of heightened scrutiny of election systems.
 

Elections administration is an apolitical craft, not a stage. To some, Curtis’s résumé reads like a blend of programmer-turned-activist, unsuccessful candidate, and Florida civil lawyer—not a seasoned nonpartisan administrator. In a county already scarred by election-system fights, that’s a combustible mix that risks more litigation, more expense, and less trust—the opposite of what Shasta County needs. (Pierce, 2025; Green, 2025).