Franking Gives an Advantage

Ventura County, meet Congressman Elton Gallegly. The Simi Valley Republican has already introduced himself to 95,000 households in the county through the courtesy of the U.S. government (“Free Mailings Help Gallegly Reach New 23rd District,” Feb. 10). Using the free mailing privileges, he has sent to us a $24,000 mailing that is a thinly veiled piece of campaign literature. He has since regretted the mailing and, like a schoolboy having gorged himself, promises not to steal any more cookies.

It is not by accident that we are governed by incumbents who were returned to the last Congress in a 94% landslide. It was because incumbents outspent challengers an average of 12 to 1, thanks principally to special-interest money.

Gallegy is going into this campaign with a treasury in excess of $350,000. Little of it, you can be sure, is the product of local supporters with campaign gifts of less than $50.

BRADLEY W. SMITH, Oxnard