Chastised Political Club Has Its Charter Restored

United Democratic Club of Monterey Park, which lost its charter last year for opposing the recall of a city councilman who is a Republican, has regained the charter.

Terry De Wolfe, club president, said the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee has voted 21 to 16 to restore the charter.

The club had come under attack for opposing the campaign to recall Councilman Barry L. Hatch, a Republican, and Councilwoman Pat Reichenberger, who is a Democrat and a club member. The recall move was unsuccessful.

Although the council post is a nonpartisan one, Democrats on the county Central Committee had opposed the club’s efforts to protect Hatch’s position.

Party rules require that a club only support Democrats, according to Rickie Santell, vice chairman of the county Democratic Central Committee. “We’re watching very carefully that they follow the rules now,” Santell said.

Former club president Phyllis Rabins said the club opposed the recall of Hatch and Reichenberger because the campaign against the two council members divided the community. The club’s position, she said, was not an endorsement of Hatch as an individual officeholder.