Gallegly’s Withdrawal Is a Stunner

Veteran Ventura County Rep. Elton Gallegly threw the local political establishment into turmoil Friday with a surprise announcement that he would not seek reelection.

Gallegly, 62, a 10-term Republican representing most of Ventura County and parts of Santa Barbara County, said worsening health problems prompted him to withdraw his candidacy.

His name, however, will remain on the June primary ballot.

He said in a written statement that while he hoped his health issues would be resolved positively, “it would not be fair to my constituents and supporters should I be forced to withdraw from the race midyear.”

Gallegly made his decision public Friday, the last day that candidates to replace him in the 24th Congressional District could file papers. Gallegly’s attorney, Michael Bradbury, said the congressman thought the filing period would be extended five days if he pulled out of the race.

But that assumption proved incorrect. According to Ventura County Clerk Philip Schmit, election law does not allow Gallegly to withdraw his name once he has filed candidacy papers.

“His name will remain on the ballot,” Schmit said.

Just one other Republican candidate had filed papers in time for the Friday deadline, Schmit said. Westlake Village attorney Michael Tenenbaum, 37, a virtual unknown in Ventura County politics, qualified for the ballot in the district, which is 46% registered Republican.

Two Democratic contenders will compete in the June primary: Oak Park businesswoman Mary Pallant and the Rev. Jill Martinez, a Presbyterian minister from Oxnard who has been active in local social reforms.

Two other prominent county Republicans, Tony Strickland and his wife, Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark), inquired whether they could withdraw from their state campaigns and file for the congressional seat, Schmit said.

However, state election law forbids candidates from running for more than one position, Schmit said.

Audra Strickland is seeking reelection to her seat in the Legislature, while her husband is trying to win the state controller’s office.

Gallegly’s announcement hit the elections office at County Government Center like a mortar round, Schmit said.

“The phone lines were burning up all day,” he said. “It was pretty much a complete surprise to everybody.”

Gallegly did not return phone calls to his office. But Bradbury said the congressman was upset that his late decision had apparently shut out other competitors.

Bradbury said Gallegly will consider next week whether to pursue a court petition seeking a five-day extension of the filing deadline.

“Finding out there is not this five-day extension just crushed him,” Bradbury said. “The last thing he wanted is for anyone to think he is depriving anyone of being a candidate.”

Bradbury said Gallegly had never met Tenenbaum, the person most likely to benefit from his decision to pull out of the race.

Gallegly’s supporters greeted news of his departure with sadness and respect for his long years of service.

First elected to Congress in 1986, Gallegly has been influential on a number of local and national issues, friends said.

Simi Valley City Manager Mike Sedell, who worked as Gallegly’s chief of staff when he first took office, said the congressman worked hard on topics important to his constituents.

Over the years, he obtained federal funding to battle the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a pest that threatened local vintners and nursery growers.

He brought in money for a Santa Paula flood control project, for studies on dismantling Matilija Dam and for a health study on the effects of Rocketdyne’s Santa Susana Field Laboratory on local residents.

“Having served on the council and as mayor, Elton clearly knew the district from the ground up and never forgot those roots. He was always looking to ensure his district received a fair share of federal resources,” Sedell said. “He was certainly instrumental in the siting of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Ventura County.”

Gallegly is a senior member of the House Judiciary, International Relations and Resources committees, and a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

In his news release, he counted his advocacy to keep the county’s two major naval installations open as a significant accomplishment.

Gallegly worked with former Rep. Bob Lagomarsino to designate the Sespe Wilderness area and has provided significant funding for Ventura County road projects.

Bradbury said Gallegly had struggled with minor health problems in recent years. He recently underwent some “sophisticated tests” for a problem that he did not disclose, Bradbury said.

“He’s the kind of guy who’s stoic about these kinds of things,” he said.

A former real estate broker, Gallegly won his first election to the Simi Valley City Council in 1979 and in 1982 became mayor. Four years later, he was elected to Congress.

He and his wife, Janice, have a home in Simi Valley.

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Times staff writer Gregory Griggs contributed to this report.