EVENTS
We will be hosting monthly meetings, public issue forums, election, and campaign events. Events will be listed below. Please join us! Email us with any questions.
Thursday August 18, 2022 6-9 PM (doors open at 5:30)
Ojai Dems host Democratic candidate forum August 18 at Kent Hall
The Ojai Valley Democratic Club will be hosting a forum for Democratic candidates for Mayor, city council and Ojai Unified School District’s Board Trustees Thursday August 18 from 6 to 9 pm at Kent Hall, 111 W. Santa Ana St. next to city hall. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the public is
invited.
This is part of the Club’s official candidate endorsement process. Only candidates who have completed and returned their questionnaire to the Club by Tuesday, August 16 at 8 pm will be invited to participate.
Club members are invited to a special Club membership meeting Sunday, August 21 at Kent Hall starting at 6 pm to vote on endorsement recommendations. Only
candidates registered as a Democrat are eligible for the Club’s endorsement, as is required by the California Democratic Party.
If you have questions about the process or the forum, contact Club President Jeffrey
Starkweather at 919-417-0969 or jeffreystarkweather69@gmail.com.
Kent Hall (Next to Ojai City Hall)
111 W. Santa Ana Street
Ojai, CA 93023
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Sunday April 24, 2022 3-5 PM (doors open at 2:30)
Meet & Greet Ojai Valley's new Congressional Representative Salud Carbajal
The Ojai Valley Democratic Club will be hosting the first visit of our new Congressman, Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara, on Sunday, April 24 from 3-5 pm at the home of Dulaine and Doug LaBarre at 206 S. Blanche St. in downtown Ojai. Doors will open at 2:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public. The Club will provide beverages and a light meal. This event was re-scheduled from the original date of Monday April 25.
The Ojai Valley and the City of Ventura were added to Carbajal’s 24th congressional district that also includes all of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The Ojai Valley was previously represented by Congresswoman Julia Brownley, whose 26th Congressional district now represents the remainder of Ventura County. The June 7 Primary will be the first time Carbajal has faced the voters of the Ojai Valley and this is his first campaign visit to the Ojai Valley. Carbajal’s campaign website is saludcarbajal.com; his Congressional website is https://carbajal.house.gov.
Home of Dulaine & Doug LaBarre
206 S. Blanche Street
Ojai, CA 93023
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March 27, 2022 1 PM
A Discussion with Ventura County District Attorney Eric Nasarenko & Monthly Meeting
The Ojai Valley Democratic Club will be hosting Ventura County District Attorney Eric Nasarenko for a discussion on criminal justice issues in Ventura County on Sunday, March 27 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm at the Help of Ojai outdoor patio at 108 S Montgomery St. in downtown Ojai. Exclusive parking for attendees is available at the Help of Ojai parking lot.
Nasarenko was appointed by a unanimous vote of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in January of 2021. He is up for election for a full-term in the November 8 general election. His parents survived WWII and five years in refugee camps before immigrating to the United States, leaving behind their home country of Ukraine. Nasarenko was raised in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from UC Irvine Law School. He started working in the Ventura DA’s office in 2008. He served previously as Mayor of Ventura.
“We are expecting this to be an exciting discussion of criminal justice issues facing the county, covering such issues as a new sexual assault cold-case unit, mental health diversion, bail reform, early release from prison, juvenile prosecution, reducing recidivism, etc.,” stated Club President Jeffrey Starkweather.
Members of the Club will vote on a recommended list of candidate endorsements for the June 7 Primary and proposed Club Bylaws changes which will be available to review on the Ojai Valley Democratic Club website; printed copies will be available at the meeting.
Help of Ojai Outdoor Patio
108 S. Montgomery St.
Ojai, CA 93023
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February 27, 2022 1 PM
Forum on oil & gas drilling Measures on the June 7 ballot & Monthly Meeting
The Ojai Valley Democratic Club will host a panel discussion on oil and gas mining and extraction in the Valley and Ventura County on Sunday February 27 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm at the Ojai Arts Center patio at 113 S. Montgomery Street in downtown Ojai.
Panel members will include Thomas Rebecchi, Central Coast Organizing Manager for Food and Water Watch, representing VC-Safe (Safe Agriculture and Fresh Water for Everybody), a political action committee which is leading the campaign to vote Yes on Ballot Measures A and B on the June 7 Primary ballot. Both measures would provide consistent environmental requirements for oil and gas drilling, including eliminating the loophole that allows the continued use of “antiquated” drilling permits without environmental reviews. See vcsafe.org for more details on Measures A & B.
The panel will also include County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez, who overcame massive opposition from the oil and gas industry to win her Oxnard area seat in 2020. Also on the panel will be climate and environmental health scientist Dr. Steve Colome, who is on the advisory board of CFROG (Climate First-Replacing Oil and Gas), and Ojai City Council member and local attorney Ryan Blatz. Both Blatz and Ramirez are member of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.