Tax Attorney to Head County Democrats

The Ventura County Democratic Party has elected a Ventura tax attorney as its new chairman after Paul H. Chatman resigned so he could pursue the duties of other volunteer work.

Robert Gallaway, 45, a Camarillo resident who practices law in Ventura, was elected chairman of the county’s Democratic Central Committee last week and will serve until January.

Gallaway said he is excited about revving up the party in time for next year’s primary, which has been moved up from its traditional date in June to March 26.

“We are getting organized a lot sooner than normal to make sure that we are ready for the March primary,” Gallaway said. “We are in the process of candidate selection and trying to get together the strongest slate [of candidates] we can.”

Chatman, a merchandise manager at J.C. Penney, had served as local Democratic chairman since the first of the year. He said he decided to resign after being elected chairman of the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

“I cannot be at all places at one time,” said Chatman, who is also president of the Ocean View School board and a member of other school organizations.

Chatman, a former Marine Corps sergeant, said he has felt indebted to the Red Cross since the group helped him telephone his mother after he was wounded during an ambush in Vietnam. He said the call provided her great relief before she received official word that he had been shot and taken shrapnel.

“They were there to help me at the time,” Chatman said, “so this is my opportunity give something back.”