About Your Central Committee
(NOTE: Until further notice, meetings will be held remotely using Zoom. To obtain the link, please email MDCC.Info@gmail.com; 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.
Karen Araujo, Chair
US Mail: PO Box 3024, Monterey CA 93942
Email: Karen Araujo (Subject line “MoCo Democrats:…”)
Phone (Permanent – Center for Change, Seaside): 831-333-0101
Phone (Election Season – Center for Change, Salinas): 831-272-2127
Executive Board (terms through November 2024)
Karen Araujo, Chair
Aidee Farias, AD 29 – Vice Chair
Ian Oglesby, AD 30 – Vice Chair
David Burnett, Financial Officer
George Riley, Secretary
Mibs McCarthy, Development Officer
Alan Haffa, Representative to the CA Democratic Party’s Executive Board
Elena Loomis, Representative to the CA Democratic Party’s Executive Board
Sub-Committees:
Finance – David Burnett, Chair
Credentials – Karen Araujo, Chair
Campaign – Christopher Barrera, Chair
Development – Mibs McCarthy, Chair
Issues – Vacant, Chair
Facilities – Tina Rau, Chair
Policies and Procedures – George Riley, Chair
Communications – Jesus Valenzuela, Chair
MCDCC Members
Designated 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 (Designated):
Lisa Berkley, Primary
Progressive Democrats of America:
Karen Araujo, Primary
Seaside Democrats:
Ian Oglesby, Primary
Salinas Democrats United:
Fernando Cabrera, Primary
Democratic Women of Monterey County:
Kim Barber, Primary
Salinas Valley Democratic Club:
Amit Pandya, 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 – Maria Orozco, Cherie Smith, Mireya Gutierrez
MoCo Board of Sup. District 4 – Jan Shriner, Alexis, Garcia-Arrazola, Cary Swenson, Brian McCarthy, Cesar Lara
MoCo Board of Sup. District 5 – Alan Haffa, Mibs McCarthy, George Riley, Alea Brown-Hoffmeiser, Elena Loomis, Laura Abihider, Ron Chesshire, Priscilla Walton
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.
