Oxnard councilmember waives closed-session participation; council votes to seek en banc review in campaign-finance case

Councilmember Aaron Starr told the Oxnard City Council on Dec. 30 that he would waive participation in a closed-session discussion of pending litigation involving the nonprofit Moving Oxnard Forward and the City of Oxnard.

Starr spoke at the meeting’s agenda item B‑1 and described the unusual position of being an officer of the plaintiff (Moving Oxnard Forward) while also serving as a city official. He told the council he reviewed the Political Reform Act and related guidance and concluded he had no distinct financial interest in the case. Starr said he was concerned, however, about becoming privy to privileged information in closed session that could later create ethics problems or give the appearance of sharing that information with outside counsel. “At this time I’m going to waive my right to participate in this matter in close session,” Starr said.

The city took public comment on the matter before recessing to closed…