OPEN Letter to Ventura County Democratic Central Committee - Attn: Steven Auclair
Updated: Sep 3
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 bylaws.
The Process Violation
We took this to the state party's Compliance and Review Commission. The CRC confirmed our challenge was timely and valid.
The CRC found this should have been decided in open session, not behind closed doors — that's exactly why we're here tonight instead of the matter being over.
We're asking this body to actually honor that finding: a real, open hearing — not a repeat of June 23 with a different date.
The Accusations from the Bylaws Committee Don't Hold Up
We filed our renewal on time, paid our dues, submitted our roster and updated bylaws. This should have been routine.
The reasons given for denying us don't survive a close look. One bylaw cited against us was misquoted — the actual provision governs this Committee's own meetings, not how individual clubs run theirs.
The FPPC campaign finance issue cited against us was already resolved months ago — settled, penalty paid, closed.
There's no bylaws provision anywhere that limits how many clubs can exist in one area.
What we're facing looks less like a bylaws violation and more like old personality disputes AGAINST PAST LEADERSHIP OF OUR CLUB being used to settle a score.
United Democrats of the Ojai Valley is not UNITED and Doesn't Speak for Us
The existence of another club doesn't mean our voice isn't needed. Multiple clubs operating in the same area is normal and allowed under these bylaws.
We support a return to at-large elections in Ojai — grounded in the city's own demographer's findings, which show no concentration of Latino voters anywhere in Ojai and conclude district voting hasn't improved minority representation.
We prioritize affordable and workforce housing as core issues. UDOV does not share our position on either of these.
Democrats in Ojai deserve more than one voice and one set of priorities represented at this table.
Closing
We're asking for a vote based on the real record, not a recommendation built on inaccurate and outdated claims.
With the November election ahead, we need every organized Democratic voice active and engaged — not sidelined over a personality conflict.
We stand for core Democratic values: grassroots organizing (not backroom power elites acting for personal gain), working-class family values, affordable and workforce housing, and an end to the gerrymandering of voters.
Thank you for hearing us out tonight.
When our charter renewal was handled in closed session in such an irresponsible vindictive way, it was a shock and a disappointment to our membership. This isn't how longtime Democrats should be treating each other, but here we are.
Here is what happened: the Central Committee adopted the recommendation of its Bylaws Committee and read the findings into the record (attached here).
These alleged violations were not true or accurate —and we had not been questioned about any of them. This came as a total surprise at the June 23 meeting, with no time to prepare, discuss, or respond.
Below is our response to the VCDCC Bylaws Committee alleged violations identified in their memo dated 6/23/26 —
BYLAWS COMMITTEE ALLEGATION: OVDC VIOLATED CA DEM PLATFORM REGARDING At-Large Elections OVDC RESPONSE: The CA Dems Platform on district-election preference is "conditional" — it applies when districting achieves the CA Voting Rights Act's goal of better minority representation. Ojai is a small town with an even smaller voting poplation. Ojai's own demographer found no geographic concentration of Latino voters here, districting doesn't serve that purpose. Worse, it's reduced representation overall: District 4 and District 3 seats went unopposed, and voters can no longer vote for all council candidates. In fact, residents vote is now limited to only two council members, their district representative and the Mayor. They used to elect all council members at large until 2020. Our Resolution 26-01, calling for a return to at-large voting, aligns with more Democratic values and representation rather than against them.
BYLAWS COMMITTEE ALLEGATION: OVDC VIOLATED CA DEMS Bylaws Article X OVDC RESPONSE: Since district elections don't advance CVRA goals in Ojai's case, supporting at-large elections furthers Democratic Party values rather than undermining them.
BYLAWS COMMITTEE ALLEGATION: OVDC VIOLATED CLOSED MEETING LAWS OVDC RESPONSE: this is misquoted bylaw required of VCDCC: The cited provision governs VCDCC's own Central Committee meetings, not chartered clubs. The memo altered "Committee" to "a chartered club," changing its meaning. We did not violate any closed-meeting notice requirement.
BYLAWS COMMITTEE ALLEGATION: OVDC VIOLATED RECHARTERING PLAN OF 2025 OVDC RESPONSE: Rechartering Requirements for 2025 Chartering Plan were completed— new officers, monthly meetings, bylaws revision, and FPPC filings — were completed.
BYLAWS COMMITTEE ALLEGATION: OUTSTANDING FPPC VIOLATIONS OVDC RESPONSE: The case filed agianst club was closed in March 2026; the $645 penalty was paid in full. It involved club leadership that predates our current officers, new officers elected July 2025.
BYLAWS COMMITTEE ALLEGATION: DUPLICATIVE CLUBS NOT NEEDED IN OJAI VALLEY OVDC RESPONSE: We are not duplicative, and nothing in the Bylaws limits the number of chartered clubs. OVDC has served Ojai Valley families and democratic values for over 20 years. Our members have not felt welcome at recently chartered United Democrats of Ojai Valley meetings — some have been "shushed", booed and asked to leave for asking questions.
A Note on Process: VCDCC bylaws require misconduct findings to go through the Article XIII disciplinary process — independent investigation, right to respond, right of appeal. OVDC received none of these protections before the June 23 vote.
We believe the charter was denied for political reasons — a rush to judgment in Executive Session based on claims that were never clearly explained to voting members. Under VCDCC's own bylaws, and the Bylaws Committee's own standard practice, a renewal review is supposed to produce recommended corrections so a club has a chance to fix any issues. That's exactly what happened for every club, including ours, in 2025. This time, at the June 23 meeting, President Star Weivoda witnessed a same-day recommendation to deny outright — in executive session, with no advance notice and no real opportunity to respond before the vote. And the accusations were not based on fact.
We appealed to the Compliance Review Commission, they met on August 26, and found VCDCC Executive meeting was not in compliance with their open meetings laws. "The Democratic Party is dedicated to openness and transparency... All meetings of the Democratic Party, at all levels, should be considered public meetings, with very few exceptions."
— CDP Rules Committee Policy Statement, July 14, 2018, as cited in the CRC's Interim Order Their desicion is here:
Mr. Auclair quickly scheduled another meeting for September 1 at 6:30 PM on Zoom.
For reference, here's the agenda item in question:
Consideration of Re-Chartering the Ojai Valley Democratic Club
a. Update regarding the Compliance and Review Committee
b. Report(s)
c. Discussion
d. Vote on the re-chartering of the Ojai Valley Democratic Club
We've asked Mr Auclair for copies of any reports to be discussed, and whether our officers will be given a chance to speak and for how long. Based upon the open meetings laws, resonable accomadations should be made for all democrats to attend meeting of democratic clubs. So far, we've received no response to either question. UPDATE as of 9/1 Mr. Auclair said we may have 3 minutes to speak, maybe 5 minutes, he didnt know? And "Reports" to be discussed have been into September Special meeting folder.
We're asking voting members of the Ventura County Central Committee to review the full record before the vote, and we hope you'll vote to renew our charter — or at minimum, come up with a rechartering plan that is relevant to our situation.
Thank you for your time and consideration — please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Excerpt of Auclair’s August 26 email is below...
Renee Roth, Secretary Star Weivoda, President Ojai Valley Democratic Club
On Wed, Aug 26, 2026 at 11:31 PM Steven Auclair <chair@venturacountydemocrats.com> wrote:
Democrats, We are calling a Special Meeting of the VCDCC for Tuesday, September 1, at 6:30 PM via Zoom. Following the CRC's determination, the VCDCC Executive Board has decided to proceed with deliberation and consideration of a re-chartering vote by the body at a Special Meeting on Tuesday, September 1, at 6:30 PM.
Zoom Link Here
Meeting Folder Here
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