Fair Board to Meet on Sex-Harassment Talk About Vitaich

Allegations of sexual harassment against the general manager of the Del Mar Fairgrounds have prompted a special closed meeting of the fair’s board of directors Monday--the day before the fair opens its annual summer run.

The focus of the investigation is Roger Vitaich, general manager of the 22nd District Agricultural Assn., best known for sponsoring the annual Del Mar Fair.

Allan Royster, president of the district’s board of directors, confirmed Friday that he was calling the special noon meeting Monday so directors could share among one another the allegations they have heard from employees against Vitaich.

“Roger is aware of this,” Royster said. “Another director and myself met with Roger to indicate we would be looking into the allegations, and he agreed that the board should do this, not only for the employees’ sake but for his own vindication.”

Vitaich, 53, could not be reached for comment Friday night.

Steeped in a background of Boy Scout and 4-H executive management, Vitaich was hired 10 years ago to help resolve the fair’s financial woes and bring to the popular summer show a renewed sense of wholesome family fun.

Over the years, he has been credited with a key management overhaul of the fair, leading to new profits and ending its image as a sorry collection of freak sideshows in favor of a renewed emphasis on agriculture, hobbies and vocational showcases.

But, in recent months, according to fair employees who asked not to be named, there has been increasing anger among the fairground’s female employees over Vitaich’s sexually harassment of them.

People close to the district’s management said the meeting to discuss Vitaich was prompted by allegations about a month ago by “a couple” of the fairground’s 125 or so regular employees, alleging misconduct on Vitaich’s part.

Royster then issued a blanket invitation last week to district employees to come to him, or other directors of their choosing, to discuss whether they were experiencing any stress or harassment on the job.

Royster on Friday would not say how many employees came to him or other directors with complaints--but he said there was sufficient response to call Monday’s special meeting.

Nor would Royster discuss the nature of the complaints that were brought to his direct attention.

“The board is sensitive to the employees and to Roger, and, to that end, we will meet in executive session,” Royster said.

One high-ranking female employee of the fair said she felt uncomfortable discussing the details of the allegations against Vitaich. “We’ve talked to our board of directors, and they’ve asked us not to discuss this on the outside,” she said.

A department manager said employees within that department had complaints against Vitaich, but the manager would not elaborate.

One fair official, who did not want to be identified, said the board was acting quickly on the allegations so “employees won’t think we’re trying to sweep this under the rug by waiting until the fair is over” in July.

Royster acknowledged that the directors don’t want to sit on the allegations.

“The fact that we have the fair rapidly approaching is why the board is moving so quickly,” he said. “We want to meet and review the conclusions of the interviews so that we can address the larger issue.

“If there seem to be reasons for further consideration of the issue, we’ll make that decision. If there seem to be inconclusive results, the board will make a decision based on that as well.

“I don’t want to reach a conclusion that hasn’t been reached by the people who have conducted the interviews (with employees). The employees have had their say, and now it’s up to the board to meet and evaluate the employees’ comments.”