Chris Kelstrom

Candidate for Shasta County Supervisorial District 5

Chris Kelstrom was born and raised in Shasta County and attended Enterprise High School, where his parents also studied. He currently serves as Shasta County Supervisor and Board Chair. About six years before an August 2026 interview, he decided to run for office out of frustration with career politicians and concern that ordinary residents were being economically squeezed. He successfully championed a term-limits measure, which passed as Measure C.

Kelstrom names public safety as his top priority and says he applies the same rules to both sides at board meetings, including a two-minute public comment limit. On county finances, his second major priority, he supports using reserve funds for the sheriff's alternative custody program and defends prior board decisions on impact fees, supervisor raises, and a contract lawsuit involving Redding Rancheria. On homelessness and mental health, he acknowledges there is no easy answer, supports existing programs like Shasta College's Step Up program and the Good News Rescue Mission, and provided letters of support for the True North and Family Dynamics mental health facilities. He also lists preserving the North Battle Creek Reservoir dams as a major priority, for recreation, habitat, fire protection, and water storage, and says he is seeking federal intervention through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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