OXNARD : Governor to Speak at Knights Dinner

Gov. George Deukmejian is scheduled to address the Knights of Columbus in Oxnard on Oct. 8, continuing a tradition of well-known speakers addressing the state’s largest chapter of the Catholic men’s organization.

“We had Ronald Reagan when he was governor, Sen. Pete Wilson was here last year and Sen. Alan Cranston has been here,” said Donald Cook, grand knight of the 682-member Oxnard chapter.

“It is kind of a tradition with us.”

Deukmejian will be the guest speaker at the Oxnard group’s annual civic night dinner, held the second Monday of October. Event organizers expect 750 people at the event, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall at 6th and D streets.

The speech is open only to members and invited guests.

A spokeswoman in the governor’s office said it is not unusual for Deukmejian to speak to charity or civic groups.

“He does a lot of speaking before Rotary Clubs, Commonwealth Clubs and Kiwanis,” said Susan Trowbridge, a spokeswoman for the governor.

“A lot of these organizations invite him to speak and if his schedule permits, he will accept.”

Cook said the Knights of Columbus mounted an multifaceted lobbying campaign to attract the governor to Oxnard. “It took a lot of hard work, telephone calls and letter writing,” he said.

Cook said the Knights also enlisted the help of Gwen Tillemans, chairwoman of the Ventura County Republican Party. “I guess we are pretty successful at this sort of thing.”