Freshman, Fresh Face Vie in 21st Congress District : THE INCUMBENT

They may have been modest, but Rep. Elton Gallegly, the ex-Simi Valley mayor who leapfrogged to Congress last year, says he has accomplished his first-term goals.

He has been present for a healthy 98.6% of all floor votes. His staff promptly responds to constituent mail, and he signs every outgoing response except form letters he has already approved. His Chatsworth and Thousand Oaks district offices have helped constituents gain Social Security or disability benefits and slash other kinds of bureaucratic red tape in more than 1,700 cases.

He adds, “My major objective the first year was to try to establish myself here with other members: to gain their respect and support.”

Gallegly’s horizons have been restricted as a freshman Republican in the 435-member House, where Democrats are firmly in control and seniority is a prerequisite for power. And, with his government experience limited to the local level, he has had to learn Washington’s Byzantine ways from scratch--from the appropriate wing-tip shoes to the nuances of the committee system--while establishing his Washington and district operations.

Indeed, his relative naivete about the congressional process won the real estate broker and antique dealer the Los Angeles Times Magazine headline: “Mr. Gallegly Goes to Washington,” recalling the Jimmy Stewart movie. Now, savvier and facing a well-financed GOP primary challenge, he seeks to write Chapter 2: “Rep. Gallegly Stays in Washington.”

Gallegly’s most creditable opponent, Sang Korman, charges that the 44-year-old incumbent’s agenda has been too limited: that he has failed to exercise leadership in Washington or within the conservative, suburban and highly educated 21st District. Gallegly himself cannot point to any legislative victories, a phenomenon he insists is typical for freshman members.

Unlike his predecessor, Bobbi Fiedler (R-Northridge), who wasted little time in establishing a high-profile, partisan presence, Gallegly’s approach has been low-key and deferential.

“He is systematically going about building relationships with individual members,” Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Highland), a leader of California’s GOP delegation, said in March. “He’s really been in the learning business up to now.”

Toshiba-Bashing

The conservative Gallegly’s moment in the national limelight came last summer when he and five colleagues took sledgehammers to a Toshiba radio on the Capitol steps. This was intended to demonstrate their anger at disclosures that a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate had joined a Norwegian consortium to illegally sell submarine technology to the Soviet Union. Gallegly also likes to recall that it got him into Newsweek and the New York Times.

On the home front, Gallegly has sought to establish his identity in his sprawling southern Ventura County and western San Fernando Valley district--and strengthen himself politically. He returned home 38 times to attend myriad events in 1987 and has sent constituents waves of taxpayer-financed newsletters, including mailings targeted to seniors, students and small businesses.

Gallegly acknowledges that, after upsetting entertainer Bob Hope’s son, Tony, in a high-powered 1986 GOP primary, he did not expect a tough reelection campaign. Some GOP activists suggest this contributed to his slow start--reflected in key staff departures, low media visibility and failure to hold any town meetings, a Fiedler staple and something Gallegly himself had vowed to do when he got settled.

Increased Activity

But these same Republicans say Gallegly’s congressional and political operations have shaped up in early 1988.

“What Korman did was put a stick of dynamite under Elton and hold the match 12 inches away,” says a GOP legislative staffer who asked not to be named. “Elton realizes he may be in a serious race, and he’s doing all the right things.”

Gallegly, a short, energetic man who friends say relishes the power, perks and pace of Congress, denies he has changed his style.

“There’s a perception problem as far as visibility is concerned,” Gallegly says. “It’s very difficult to maintain a high profile in every city in the district, particularly when you are a brand-new member and most members of Congress in California are not household names.”

There is no question, however, that he revved his campaign fund-raising into high gear to counter Korman. He reports raising more than $200,000 during the first four months of the year--including numerous donations from contractors and real estate brokers and developers--and says he will spend at least $250,000 in the primary. The GOP nomination is considered tantamount to election in the heavily Republican district.

Family Concerns

Gallegly’s first term has been marked by little-noticed personal drama as well. His 21-year-old son, Shawn, was critically injured last summer when a large kiln fell on him at a General Motors plant. He has since recovered. More recently, Gallegly’s 18-year-old stepdaughter, Shannon, underwent surgery for skin cancer. Her prognosis is positive.

And, Gallegly says, he has received mail and telephone death threats, apparently sparked by his co-sponsorship of a controversial bill to close the Palestine Liberation Organization’s information office in New York and its mission in Washington because the PLO has sponsored terrorism. He said one letter warned: “You’re doomed.”

More recently, Gallegly wrote a bill to empower federal courts to give death sentences to killers of federal law enforcement officers. Similar measures have stalled in committees, but Gallegly maintains that his version is more narrowly drawn and could ride mounting anti-drug sentiment to the House floor.

Death Penalty Bill

The Law Enforcement Officers Death Penalty Act of 1988, now pending in the House Judiciary Committee, is prominently featured in Gallegly’s campaign brochure. Korman’s campaign charges that the bill is nothing more than an election-year ploy.

“Criminal justice and dealing with drug dealers is a principal concern of mine,” Gallegly responds. “This is certainly consistent with things I have stood up for in the past.”

The only other bill Gallegly has initiated would allow the city of Agoura Hills to donate a parcel of land to the federal government to be used for an information center for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The measure, which has no opposition, is in the Interior Committee. “It’s not what you would call landmark legislation,” Gallegly concedes.

Gallegly’s anti-tax and pro-defense voting record--mirroring President Reagan’s positions--generally appears to reflect his district, whose rolling hills and sparkling coast line are home to two military bases, numerous defense contractors, rich agricultural land and the comfortable ranch homes of an affluent, largely white population.

Voting Record

His record received perfect scores from the pro-defense American Security Council, the pro-business United States Chamber of Commerce, and Watchdogs of the Treasury, which supports limited government spending, and a 96% from the American Conservative Union. He recently reported these ratings in one of his publicly funded newsletters.

“My basic philosophy is that government is involved in too many things,” Gallegly told physician-lobbyists during a March meeting in his spacious Cannon Building office. “But, unfortunately, there are some things government has to get involved in.”

He recently voted against the Civil Rights Restoration Act that extended the reach of federal anti-discrimination laws to all parts of an institution that receives federal aid rather than just its federally funded programs. He was one of the 133 House members who unsuccessfully sought to sustain Reagan’s veto of the measure.

Opposed Senior Issues

Gallegly’s desire to curb the reach and cost of government is also reflected in other ratings that were not cited in his newsletter. His voting record received a score of 0 from the National Council of Senior Citizens (he voted against their positions on 10 measures), 40% from the pro-teachers National Education Assn. and 4% from the pro-labor AFL-CIO.

“If I am reelected, those ratings will be consistent in the future,” Gallegly vows, unapologetic that groups he considers liberal gave him low marks.

Upon arriving in Washington, he suffered an early disappointment. He had sought membership on the House Armed Services Committee, a coveted post that would be especially beneficial in his district. With two California Republicans already on the committee--and veteran Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) also seeking this assignment--Gallegly says he knew he was shooting high. Neither he nor Dornan got the appointment.

“The purpose of that was to let the people know I had a real interest and plant the seed,” Gallegly recalls.

Interior Committee

He then failed to get his second choice, the Banking Committee, and ended up on the Interior and Insular Affairs Small Business Committees. On Interior, he is a strong supporter of offshore oil exploration, which he says is needed to reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East. Stretching to put the best face on his assignments, in constituent newsletters, Gallegly called both committees “prestigious.”

He has, however, sought to lay the groundwork for eventual appointment to Armed Services. He traveled to Central America--the only other time he’d ever left the United States was on vacation trips to Mexico--participated in Navy orientation programs for Congress members in San Diego and Norfolk, Va., and reviewed a drug interdiction program in Miami, Fla.

His five-day trip to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Honduras reconfirmed his support for military aid to the anti-Sandinista Contras.

“There’s no question that without the pressure of the Contras, the Sandinistas never would have went for this peace plan,” Gallegly recently told visiting Simi Valley officials, referring to the temporary cease-fire now in effect.

Relies on Aide

As he finds his way in Congress, Gallegly relies heavily on administrative assistant Mike Sedell, an ex-deputy city manager of Simi Valley whom he brought to Washington. Sedell, 37, oversees both the Washington and district operations and is the only newcomer among a small number of House aides receiving the maximum $72,500 annual salary.

Says Gallegly: “I’ve yet to meet any other person here I would trade Mike for.”

Yet, at times, the inexperience of Gallegly, Sedell and company shows.

A January news release, for example, referred to “President Reagan’s seventh and potentially last State of the Union message” (emphasis added), despite the President’s stated intention to abide by the two-term constitutional limit.

Another release announcing Gallegly’s opposition to the transport of highly toxic rocket fuel through populous areas of Los Angeles reached newsrooms shortly after the issue was resolved and long after many other local, state and federal officials had expressed their opposition.

“I am still going through a real learning mode,” Gallegly acknowledged between appointments during a hectic round of House votes and meetings with lobbyists and constituents. “I’ve never worked as hard at anything.”

ELTON GALLEGLY

Personal History

Born March 7, 1944, in Huntington Park, oldest of two sons. His father, Chester, was a maintenance worker, and his mother, Bella, worked in food processing. Parents were staunch working-class Democrats. Graduated from Huntington Park High School. Dropped out of Los Angeles State College in 1963 to buy, fix up and sell rental real estate. Moved to Simi Valley in 1968. He is Protestant.

Work

Became a licensed real estate broker in 1969. Founded Dynamic Real Estate in Simi Valley in 1970. Closed company when he went to Congress. Has a small family business, Nostalgia Junction, buying, fixing up and selling antiques. Was paid $9,000 in speaking honorariums in 1987. Estimates net assets at $1.25 million.

Political Career

Registered as a Republican to vote for Ronald Reagan as governor in 1966. Elected to Simi Valley City Council on platform of economic development in 1979. Was selected mayor by his colleagues in 1980; returned to mayor’s office twice after post became elective. Was known as an advocate for development and civic revitalization and as a skilled consensus-builder. Ran for Congress in 1986 against Tony Hope, son of entertainer Bob Hope, who was favored in GOP primary. Attacked Hope as a carpetbagger who failed to register to vote for 10 years. Heavily supported by real estate developers. Upset Hope with 50% of the vote in three-way race; won general election by more than 2 to 1. His first-term goals were to forge working relationships with colleagues, high attendance and timely constituent services. Has a conservative voting record. Serves on Interior and Insular Affairs and Small Business committees. Has the support of the Republican establishment.

Home Life

Wed twice. Married since 1974 to the former Janice Shrader. Each has two children from former marriages. His two are Shawn, 21, a senior at UC Santa Barbara, and Kevin, 18, a freshman at Moorpark College; she also has a 21-year-old Shawn, who works for a Westwood car dealership, and Shannon, 18, a freshman at Moorpark College. Three of the children live in the family’s Simi Valley home. A fan and collector of 1950s music and memorabilia. Relaxation includes tennis and occasional trips to Las Vegas.