Oceano Parks and Recreation Committee Founder Charles Varni is now on the outside looking in after the Oceano Community Services District twice turned down requests to appoint him to an advisory body.
“I’ve seen Charles’ passion, and he was very instrumental in the track but when he’s on this board, up here … it’s a constant battle with him,” district board president Linda Austin said at the Aug. 13 meeting. “I know he can be pleasant, … but if he gets any authority, he will just browbeat the staff to do what he wants them to do.”
Varni spearheaded the parks and rec committee as part of his 2023 campaign to join the district board. After his election win, Varni and fellow board members Allene Villa and Beverly Joyce-Suneson voted in favor of creating the committee.
He told New Times that he now operates as a community volunteer. Setting up the parks and rec committee was a “fight” since remaining board members Austin and Shirley Gibson were against it, he added.
“That struggle, those emotions around that have not gone away on the new majority’s part,” Varni said.
At the Aug. 13 meeting, Austin, Gibson, and freshman board member Kim Rose voted against reconsidering Varni’s appointment to the parks and rec committee.
After Varni lost his reelection campaign in 2024, he applied to serve on the parks and rec committee as an Oceano resident representative. Austin, Gibson, and Rose rejected his application during a review of committee member applications in March, making Varni the only one of six parks and rec committee candidates who wasn’t approved.
Varni, Austin, and Gibson have a long and contentious history as district board members. Their conflict was underscored by Varni’s and Austin’s roles on the now-defunct Oceano Advisory Council and the Vitality Advisory Council of Oceano, respectively—two advisory bodies that used to frequently debate about local issues and community engagement.
The board members’ heated interactions hit a crescendo in 2023 when Gibson filed a request in the San Luis Obispo Superior Court for a temporary restraining order against Varni. She alleged stalking and verbal harassment. A Superior Court judge denied the request.
Board conflict reached new heights when former General Manager Will Clemens announced early retirement in 2023, saying that the dysfunction culminated in the resignation of the legal firm representing the district.
Despite most of the board giving the thumbs down to Varni’s application, he tried again to serve on the parks and rec committee. Committee bylaws make room for one representative from the Oceano Beach Community Association.
Backed by the association, Varni filed another parks and rec committee application.
“A prime example of Mr. Varni’s impactful work is his involvement in the track and soccer field project, a collaborative effort with the Lucia Mar Unified School District,” said a letter from the association to the district board. “This project will provide invaluable recreational opportunities for our youth and community members.”
While the district looked for donations from community members and had the school district take on fundraising efforts, Varni previously told New Times they were seeking a $50,000 grant from the Community Development Block Grant Program to help the track at Oceano Elementary School.
Seed money from a $25,000 Community Development Block Grant covered the design, engineering, and cost estimates.
According to Varni’s parks and rec applications, he wrote the grant application for the track. His application added that three parks and rec committee members also raised $38,000 from local businesses, organizations, and residents, while they also received an anonymous donation of $25,000. The school district donated the remaining money. The ribbon-cutting for the new school track will take place the week of Sept. 22.
Despite letters of support from other parks and rec committee members, Austin, Gibson, and Rose once again rejected Varni’s appointment. Gibson and Rose didn’t respond to New Times’ request for comment.
Austin told New Times that her decision was based on Varni’s previous conduct.
“I do want to note that Mr. Varni is still welcome to participate as a member of the community,” she said. “This decision was not about Oceano’s ability to secure grant funding. On the contrary, I believe Oceano will be stronger in pursuing grants and advancing projects when we have representatives who can work constructively with others.” ∆
This article appears in Sept 18-28, 2025.
According to Oceano Community Services District staff, Charles Varni reportedly attempted to weaponize staff to threaten and intimidate me for criticizing his misbehavior and his fragile ego in the New Times comments section. He’s incapable of any leadership role.
Self awareness is a wonderful thing. This guy should get some. Nobody wants him around.