About Your Central Committee
(NOTE: Until further notice, meetings will be held remotely using Zoom. To obtain the link, please email [email protected]; the autoresponse provides the one-time registration. Join us online or in person as we navigate how to make the most of this inclusive way of gathering.)
The Monterey County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) is the elected body representing registered Democrats in Monterey County; it serves as the local presence of the California Democratic Party. The MCDCC holds monthly meetings every fourth Tuesday from 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. (2024: except in March and December)
Meetings are open to the public and all friends of the Democratic Party are welcome. Before we were meeting online only, the meeting location alternated between the Seaside Center for Change (1238 Fremont Blvd, Seaside 93955), and the Salinas Center for Change (931 ½ East Market Street, Salinas 93905). All were preceded by social time with snacks and beverages beginning at 6:00 P.M.
US Mail: 1238 Fremont Blvd., Seaside CA 93955
Email: [email protected]
Phone (Permanent – Center for Change, Seaside): 831-333-0101
Phone (Election Season – Center for Change, Salinas): 831-272-2127
Executive Board (terms through November 26, 2024)
Karen Araujo, Chair (Email: [email protected] Subject line “MoCo Democrats:…”)
Aidee Farias, AD 29 – Vice Chair
Ian Oglesby, AD 30 – Vice Chair
Joey Macaluso, Interim Financial Officer
George Riley, Secretary
Mibs McCarthy, Development Officer
Alan Haffa, Representative to the CA Democratic Party’s Executive Board (Through 2026)
Elena Loomis, Representative to the CA Democratic Party’s Executive Board
Sub-Committees:
Finance – Vacant, Chair (Interim slot filled by Joey Macaluso through November 26th)
Credentials – Karen Araujo, Chair
Campaign – George Riley, Chair
Development – Mibs McCarthy, Chair
Issues – Vacant, Chair
Facilities – Bob Coble, Chair
Policies and Procedures – George Riley, Chair
Communications – Jesus Valenzuela, Chair
MCDCC Members
Jesus Valenzuela, Communications Liaison
Michael Ndubisi, Youth Leadership/Young Democrat
Ex-Officio Members (CA Democratic Party role): Steve McDougall, Representative to the Executive Board for Assembly District 29; Dominic Dursa, Region 9 Director
Ex-Officio Members (Elected office): Robert Rivas, 29th Assembly District; Dawn Addis, 30th Assembly District; Anna Caballero, 14th Senate District (Rep Salinas Valley until November 2024 election results); John Laird, 17th Senate District; Jimmy Panetta, 19th Congressional District; and Zoe Lofgren, 18th Congressional District.
Club Representatives:
David Burnett, Primary
Progressive Democrats of America – Monterey Area Chapter Club:
Karen Araujo, Primary
Seaside Democratic Club:
Ian Oglesby, Primary
Salinas United Democratic Club:
Fernando Cabrera, Primary
Democratic Women of Monterey County Club:
Kim Barber, Primary
Salinas Valley Democratic Club:
Amit Pandya, Primary
Pacific Grove Progressives Democratic Club:
John Mothershead, Primary
Monterey County Supervisorial District Representatives – Terms April 2024 – March 2028:
MoCo Board of Sup. District 1 – Jose Luis Barajas, Ernesto Gonzalez, Victor Caravez
MoCo Board of Sup. District 2 – Anthony Rocha, Andrew Sandoval, Ramon Gomez, Aurelio Salazar Jr.
MoCo Board of Sup. District 3 – Mireya Gutierrez, Maria Orozco, Cherie Smith
MoCo Board of Sup. District 4 – Cary Swensen, Jan Shriner, Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, Cesar Lara, Brian McCarthy
MoCo Board of Sup. District 5 – Alan Haffa, Mibs McCarthy, George Riley, Alea Brown-Hoffmeiser, Elena Loomis, Laura Abihider, Priscilla Walton, Ron Chesshire
What Is A Central Committee?
County Central Committees are the local governing bodies of the Democratic Party in each county. They are chartered by the State Democratic Party. Central Committees raise funds, plan election activities, and may open campaign headquarters. The Monterey County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) promotes the values expressed in the California Democratic Party’s Platform and helps to elect to local office individuals sharing those values and registered in the Democratic Party . In addition, the MCDCC charters local Democratic Clubs promoting the Party Platform, holding meetings taking place regularly, and with a minimum of 20 registered Democrats as dues paying members. Representatives to the MCDCC are elected every four years. Representation on the MCDCC is based on the number of registered Democrats voting within each County Supervisorial District and members must live in the Supervisorial District which they represent. Partisan-level Democratic nominees or Democratic Elected Officials who live in the county are also members. See our Bylaws or the CA Democratic Party’s Bylaws for full details.
