Cloverdale Council Faces Turmoil Amid Allegations of Taxpayer-Funded Strip Club Visits
A councilmember accuses city officials of misconduct during a conference, sparking internal conflict and an upcoming election battle.
A small Northern California town is embroiled in controversy following accusations by a councilmember that top city officials misused taxpayer funds for a strip club visit. The allegations have surfaced just weeks before a pivotal local election.
Cloverdale Councilmember Marjorie Morgenstern, the sole female member of the city council, claims that during a taxpayer-funded trip to the League of California Cities’ New Mayors and Council Members Academy in Sacramento in January 2023, Mayor Brian Wheeler, Vice Mayor Todd Lands, City Manager Kevin Thompson, and the city clerk visited a strip club. Morgenstern detailed these accusations in an email sent on September 29.
She further alleges that these actions foster a "sexist and misogynist culture at City Hall" and claims she has faced retaliation for speaking out. According to The Press Democrat, Morgenstern stated she learned of the alleged outing during drinks with Thompson, Lands, and Wheeler the night after the conference, when Thompson supposedly revealed the information. She claims the city clerk had gone to the club a second time for a friend's birthday celebration.
The Cloverdale City Council convened a special closed-door meeting on October 5 to discuss complaints and potential legal actions involving Morgenstern. In response, city officials have issued a strong denial of the allegations. The city released a public statement refuting Morgenstern's claims and also made public a 50-page internal dossier detailing previous investigations and workplace complaints filed against her.
"In recent days, Councilmember Morgenstern has spread lies that Mayor Wheeler, Vice Mayor Lands and two city employees visited a strip club during a conference in 2023. Each individual categorically denies these slanderous and false accusations," the city stated, as reported by The Press Democrat.
Morgenstern also detailed a separate incident involving a workplace complaint filed by the city clerk. After the 2023 conference, Morgenstern reportedly discussed concerns about the clerk with him. Subsequently, the clerk filed a complaint alleging that Morgenstern told him a story about a friend or acquaintance who was "washing semen," referencing a process related to artificial insemination, during a car ride.
The Cloverdale City Council General Election is scheduled for November 3, with three at-large seats open. Nine candidates are vying for these positions, including incumbent Morgenstern. The other candidates are Will Carter, Steve Kawa, Kimberly Kern, Andres Marquez, Jenn Neylon, Chris Parker, Colleen Shields, and Kelly Spagnola.
