DEMOCRATS PICNIC IN GOP'S BACK YARD.

Byline: David Greenberg Staff Writer

Hank Lacayo, chairman of the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee, knew he had found an outlet for his organizing skills when he moved to Republican-heavy Thousand Oaks a dozen years ago.

Having retired as national director for the United Auto Workers in Detroit, he immediately announced his political presence by sticking campaign signs on his front lawn in public support of Democratic candidates.

He soon realized, however, that Republicans had staked out the east county as predominantly its own.

``People would look at me strangely,'' Lacayo said. ``The neighborhood did not reflect what my family was advertising. Some people would whisper, I'm a Democrat too. But they wouldn't fly their colors.''

For that reason, the committee's 11th annual Labor Day picnic took place in Conejo Creek Park in Thousand Oaks on Monday - the first time the event was staged in the east county.

The strategy is part of the committee's ongoing efforts to entice area Democrats to emerge from the political closet.

``We moved the event to east county to show there are a number of Democrats in the area and allow closet Democrats to come out,'' said Lacayo. ``There's quite a few.''

Previous Labor Day picnics were held in Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo.

As many as 300 people came out for Monday's four-hour picnic, where the soda, beer, wine and political rhetoric flowed.

``The Democrat party is the only party that honors working families on this day,'' Lacayo said. ``We're the party that stands for working people.''

Countywide, Democrats have a slight edge in voter registration, holding the majority in Oxnard, Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru, he said.

But Republicans control Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Camarillo and Agoura.

They also have a higher overall voter turnout on election days, Democratic officials said.

``Our push is going to be to get Democrats out to vote,'' said Larry Miller, who sits on the committee's 22-member board. ``We can elect any Democrat if we can get our Democrats out to vote. It will be one more brick in building a solid wall of Democratic strength in the county.''

The party already is flexing some of its muscle: Camarillo Democrat Roz McGrath came within 1,200 votes of defeating Thousand Oaks Republican Tony Strickland for the 37th District Assembly seat in November.

Republicans traditionally win that seat by landslide margins.

Port Hueneme City Councilman Jon Sharkey, who is challenging Strickland in the November 2000 election, was among those scheduled to speak.

``There was a time when people were almost unwilling to admit they were Democrats,'' said Ventura resident Bill Gallaher, whose party activism has increased in recent years. ``That's really changed. There is a lot more visibility. The energy level has grown. It creates new registration.

``That's important,'' he said. ``Every year, a group of people turn old enough to vote. You want to be appealing to them.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) Chuck Taylor, treasurer of the Conejo Valley Democratic Club, mans the grill during the Labor Day picnic at Conejo Creek Park in Thousand Oaks on Monday.

(2) Democrats enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs at Monday's picnic - the first time the event was staged in east Ventura County.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer