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The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California The Honorable Monique Limón, President pro Tempore, California State Senate, District 21 The Honorable Steve Bennett, California State Assembly, District 38 RE: SB 1164 — Request for a Small-City Safe Harbor for Returning to At-Large Elections Dear Governor Newsom, President pro Tempore Limón, and Assemblymember Bennett: I am a longtime Ojai resident and civic volunteer. I serve on the City of Ojai’s Budget and Finance

Why Ojai needs to restore at large voting Any serious discussion of Ojai's elections has to hold two legitimate objectives at once: protecting minority voters from vote dilution, and preserving competitive elections in which voters have meaningful choices among qualified candidates. These goals are not always in tension — but for Ojai, under SB 1164, 2026 amendments to the CA VOTING RIGHTS ACT (CVRA) --- they are. Reseach and experience show districts narrow the pool of candi

You are invited to OV Dems Meeting on Sept 13, link is below. Time: 4:30 sign in Meeting starts at 5:00pm You will be admitted into a waiting room, please enter your name. Thanks for your patience. Ojai Valley Democrats Meeting Meeting ID: 845 3310 7658 Renee

HELLO OJAI VALLEY Democrats, Date: Sunday, Sept 13 we are Moving to zoom meetings TIME: 4:30-checkin, 5:00-6:30 meeting AGENDA for Sunday September 13, 2026 ZOOM MEETING Zoom meeting link will be sent to all members Note: Please arrive before 5:00, to help us manage the waiting room Welcome visitors, guests Guest Speaker: Kristol Edwards with California Democratic Council (CALDC.org) : Affiliation Update Interim President of OV Dems Discussion - Update on Charter: Sept 1 Den

Let us remember, "DEMOCRACY DIES IN DARKNESS" Dear Members of the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee : Talking Points for SEPT 1 meeting: Opening Ojai Valley Democratic Club has represented Democrats in this valley for over 20 years. On June 23, our charter renewal was denied in closed session, with no advance notice of the reasons and no real chance to respond AND despite the fact that we filed on time, paid our dues, submitted a current roster, and updated our byl

We need to change our previously scheduled August 16 meeting to Sept 6. Dear Ojai Valley Democrats, The August 16 meeting was rescheduled to September 6 due to a heavy run of events in the intervening weeks. Key Updates & Agenda Topics At-Large Voting Initiative Petition: The initiative petition to restore at-large voting in Ojai is still under review by the Ojai City Attorney's Office. Expected to be ready the week of Sept 1. California Democratic Council (CalDC): The CalDC

Thank you Anthony and Carol for sponsoring the return to at-large voting initiative petition! Ojai Valley News, Friday, July 24, 2026 by Rob Shepyer Former Ojai City Councilmember Carol Smith and Ojai resident Anthony Duarte signed the Ojai At-Large Restoration Act and submitted it to Chief Deputy City Clerk Weston Montgomery for filing on Wednesday, July 22. According to Montgomery: “The City Clerk’s Office received and filed the Notice of Intention, completed the ministeria

Friday, July 24, 2026 Rob Shepyer rob@ojaivalleynews.com Ojai Valley Democratic Club president, Starchild Weivoda, addresses the OVDC meeting on July 19 with Ventura County Democratic Central Committee Second Vice Chair, Marco Cuevas. After being told by the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee, in a mass email to their member roster, to remove the word “Democratic” from its name, the Ojai Valley Democratic Club chose to keep the name and hold a meeting July 19. VCDCC

The California Democratic Party (CDP) is committed to providing a welcoming, respectful, friendly, safe, supportive, and harassment-free environment for members, employees, and all others associated with the CDP. The CDP expects all leaders, members, employees, and others associated with the CDP to act professionally, respecting the personal rights and dignities of all individuals involved with the party so as to create a productive, inclusive environment for all. All individ

Agenda Doors: 4:30 pm Meeting: 5:00-6:30pm ​​​ Welcome - President of OVDC, Starchild Weivoda Adopt Minutes from last meeting Charter renewal status with VCDCC Options for OVDC? Support Appointing Transition Team Candidate Endorsements Nov 2026 Elections Voter Initiative Petition Immigrant /Minority/ ICE - Questions for Town Hall Treasurers Report New Business? Next meeting: August 16 ​​​​ ​ 📅 SAVE THE DATES: November 3, 2026 General Election​ - YOUR VOTE MATTERS!...

OJAI, Calif. — July16 — The Ojai Valley Democratic Club (OVDC) intends to continue serving Democratic voters in the Ojai Valley. On June 23, the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee (VCDCC) voted not to renew OVDC's charter. OVDC has formally appealed the decision to the Compliance and Review Commission of the California Democratic Party; the appeal was filed July 13. Background: OVDC applied for charter renewal on April 1, 2026, and met all requirements for recharteri

It's Time to Talk About Ojai's District Elections Six years ago, under leadership of Mayor Johnny Johnston, Ojai switched from citywide ("at-large") City Council elections to voting by district. The change wasn't really a choice — it was a response to a legal threat. Four council members voted yes, one voted no. Now, new evidence suggests that threat may no longer hold up, and the City is taking a fresh look at whether it's time to go back to what worked for many years. How

July 19 and August 16 Meetings Start at 4:30 at the Ojai Art Center

Important local elections are coming up and we need all experienced hands on deck. Can we count on you? Will you consider REjoining the Ojai Valley Democrats? With 3 Ojai City Council seats, the Mayor's race, and 3 OUSD School Board trustee seats all on the November ballot, this is going to be one of the most consequential local election seasons. Who are the candidates? What are the issues? Who truly understands the challenges facing our community and can earn OUR vote? CAND

At our last OVDC meeting, members supported the Executive Committee Drafting a Resolution in support of returning to at-large voting where council members are elected city wide. This was on the Ojai City Council Agenda for Tuesday, May 12, and again on May 26, 2026. OVDC emailed our Resolution 26-01 for Public Comment. We advocate for all members of the Ojai community to contact their council members and submit public comments in support of at-large voting. Download OVDC Re

RETURN TO AT-LARGE VOTING of Ojai City Council Members