The Civic Influencer
Following @Rachel4Ojai
Once in a while, a local politician makes an Instagram account that doesn’t immediately make you wince. It doesn’t try to go viral, doesn’t jump on trends, and doesn’t use meme fonts. It’s just there, quietly doing what social media was supposed to do: keeping people informed, making space for dialogue, helping neighbors understand what’s going on at City Hall. That’s the case with @rachel4ojai, an account created by Mayor Pro Tem Rachel Lang that aims to make civic life in Ojai a little less mysterious and a little more welcoming.
Lang, who has lived in Ojai for years and served on City Council since 2022, created @rachel4ojai not to perform politics but to gently explain it. The account is part notice board, part notebook, and part open door. It’s not an influencer play, either. The lighting’s good, but the tone is grounded. It’s just her, trying to make the workings of a small city government feel a little less obscure, a little more human.
“As someone who wears a few different hats — astrologer, author, artist, public servant — it felt important to create a clear line between my civic work and my personal or professional life,” Lang told me. “I started the second account to make local government feel more accessible. It’s a space for transparency, civic education, and honest dialogue with the community I serve.”
This wasn’t a strategic pivot. It was, by her telling, an intuitive step. A way to continue the conversation after the Council meeting ends. “I often leave meetings wishing I had said more,” she said. “Building a social media platform for my City Council work gives me the opportunity to do that. It also provides another way for people to reach me.”
Ojai is the kind of place where “reaching someone” might mean waving across the farmers’ market or catching a conversation while walking your trash bins out. But it’s also a place with a deeply engaged citizenry, the kind that reads public agendas and asks follow-up questions in the checkout line. Lang’s feed, with its calm tone and candid explanations, feels like a natural extension of that ecosystem. There are no filters and no viral stunts. She posts summaries of meetings, previews of upcoming votes, and occasional glimpses into the bureaucratic sausage-making that most of us never see.
“My goal is to demystify the process of government,” she said. “A lot happens in between meetings, and this platform gives me a chance to share updates, explain policies, and connect directly with constituents who might not attend Council meetings. I try to strike a balance between informative, engaging, and encouraging public involvement.”
That balance between transparency and tone, information and approachability is where so many politicians falter. I asked Lang about the growing canon of politicians who’ve made social media their stage, some to acclaim (AOC), others to widespread eye-roll. “AOC is a masterclass in transparency and storytelling,” she said. “I admire how she brings humanity and clarity to complex issues. I also love the work of folks like Jessica Yellin, who makes news digestible and engaging. I try to take cues from them while staying grounded in my own voice. I have many drafts of reels and posts in the trash can because they could come across as ‘cringe.’ I’m still navigating that balance.”
The fact that she’s navigating it at all that she’s thinking critically about what to post, what to leave unsaid, and how it might land, feels like a public service in itself. In a digital environment where overstatement is the currency, Lang is modeling something quieter and, arguably, more effective: clear, consistent communication with no agenda beyond connection. She’s not trying to go viral. She’s trying to help.
Lang sees her account not just as a stream of information but as a tool for civic engagement and, occasionally, activism. “Local government is activism,” she told me. “It’s the everyday work of showing up, listening, and making decisions that affect people’s lives.” While her tone remains measured and respectful, she doesn’t shy away from taking a stand, especially on issues like housing, climate, and equity. “Our positions on Council are non-partisan,” she added. “We serve the whole community, and I take that commitment seriously.”
So far, that has meant posts on everything from composting and fire hardening to road work and tree trimming. “I try to address common concerns — like potholes or fire risks — but I also use the platform to raise awareness about things that might not be on people’s radar yet,” she said. “Like the implications of the state’s organic waste law or how we can prepare for grid instability during fire season.”
She’s open to suggestions, too. “I would love to hear what others want to know.”
Coming up, Lang plans to post more about the intersection of climate and economic resilience — microgrids, green infrastructure, and how federal policy decisions ripple down to affect everyday life in Ventura County. She’s also preparing a longer video about the Cabin Village project, which would bring permanent supportive housing to Ojai — a project she has supported and wants to help explain in more detail.
And then there’s wastewater. “The surprisingly fascinating world of wastewater,” she clarified. But she’s not joking.
Some things, though, are off-limits. “The Brown Act is a hot topic, and I have many thoughts on it,” she said, sounding exactly like someone who will eventually post a reel titled ‘Brown Act 101.’ “There are moments I’d love to respond in real-time to public concerns, but I have to wait for the proper venue.” And then there are the funny moments she isn’t quite sure what to do with.
