U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, the longest serving congressional representative in Ventura County history, announced this morning that he will not seek re-election and will retire at the end of the current Congress.
In a prepared statement, Gallegly said he was looking forward to spending more time with his wife Janice and their family and friends.
“Serving in Congress and representing my home for 25 years is the greatest experience I could have ever asked for," he said. "Working with our country’s leadership on a daily basis in striving to move toward a better, stronger and more vibrant America for more than two decades has been a dream come true. The decision to step aside at this time did not come lightly. But in the end, Janice and I decided now was the right time to begin the next chapter in our lives. We are truly blessed to have our health, our family, and so many, many friends that we look forward to spending more time with."
Gallegly is Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement. He entered public life in 1979 with his election to the Simi Valley City Council and, in 1982, became the City’s first directly elected mayor. He held that post until he ran for Congress in 1986. He won that year in a landslide and was re-elected twelve times.
This story will be updated later today.
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Comments » 101
Cruz805 writes:
finally!
CityThatCares writes:
Tony Strickland, Bob Brooks, Peter Foy, or Greg Totten. Who will run?
grammadee writes:
Bye bye!
JohnInSimi writes:
I wonder what TomCat and Cassandra will do to celebrate?
Cam_Cracker writes:
22 lazy years in congress and what does he have to show for it? NOTHING! he's been a loyal GOP back slapper/seat warmer. His so called claim to fame is a bill to ban chrush videos. SO WHAT! what about my quality of life for the good folks in Ventura County? NOTHING. Just like the Strickland thugs, just there to slop from the public and do nothing but to enrich themselves.
The_Highlander writes:
Linda Parks (RINO) will run. She will announce next week or the week after.
one2manny writes:
Yess
JesseLuna writes:
I'm looking forward to helping elect a Representative who knows the importance of our immigrant brothers and sisters and is open to real community involvement.
kenternst writes:
You certainly know nothing about what this representative. He has been a huge supporter to the military and to veterans as well as a very powerful representative to this district. His immigration reform efforts have set the tone and the standards that are being debated even today on how to implement. He is responsive all the way down to individuals in his district. He even got involved to help cut through the bureaucratic mess that was caused when one of my former reserve Navy crew got killed on duty with the Ventura County Sheriffs Department following a return from active duty and just prior to his Navy retirement being finalized (takes 6-9 months to get the forms needed for the retirees signature). Without his help, that veteran's widow would have never received her fully justified benefits. It would take pages and hours to relate to you all he has done for this district. His retirement will be a major loss that cannot be easily filled by any up and comer
BLW930 writes:
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
throwawaygenius writes:
"Good bye, and thanks for all the fish"
Hey_Scapegoat writes:
This was kind of anticipated. Now the fun starts.
Here is what VC does NOT need in a congressional representative:
1. Apologist for Mexico
2. Enviro whack job
3. Big government lover
4. Anti-business zealot
5. Pro-union (private or public) money mop.
etc etc
Gee, I guess that pretty much discounts all the Dims that have announced. Especially that fossil Bennett.
Somebody mentioned Linda Parks-naw, lets not go there. She is Lois Capps with less wrinkles and tad more common sense.
Here is what we need:
1. Someone pro-business
2. Someone who can tell Mexico to stick it.
3. Someone who knows the dangers of big government.
4. Someone who will not take a dime from unions.
5. Someone with common sense about environmental issues.
6. Someone who thinks a balanced checkbook is a good thing.
KatieTeague writes:
Only one of these guys, Greg Totten, has any business running. My first response to this article was "he's retiring again?". What a waste of the last 25 years and now with the redistricting it is no longer a Republican candidate shoo-in.
Clanker writes:
Good post Cam. He really has been an example of what's wrong with Congress. Talk about a record of non accomplishment!
As for the poster who claims Elton has set a tone on immigration my only answer is that he and the Republicans have spectacularly failed in that arena. Revenge doesn't substitute for good policy. And as for support of the military; that is accurate. He has helped bankrupt this country with his support of unsustainable and wasteful military spending.
Hope the district doesn't elect a clone.
exleper writes:
Good riddance! 25 years too long if you ask me.
Honestcop writes:
JL: Why so many words to describe "illegal aliens?"
socalmonk writes:
Gallegly has been my Congressional representative forever, it seems. His district was gerymandered to keep him in office well into the next century (which it has), and redistricting to more accurately represent the area's constituency was bound to bring his reign to an end, one way or another. Gallegly's big issue has always been immigration, and he has played on the xenophobic fears of the white folks while taking the money of and turning a blind eye to all the agricultural corporations that hire undocumented workers. Worth noting, too, that while Gallegly has always boosted for the defense industry and military installation(s) in his district and waved the flag like he was on fire, he has consistently voted against the interests of active duty military personnel as well as veterans. Elton Gallegly is exemplary of the hypocrisy of the republican party and it will be good to see him go. Strickland could have slipped into Gallegly's old district without making a ripple, but the newly redrawn districts will make him an also-ran. We're gonna get some democrats in here, baby!
carthomas7 writes:
luv to watch soar socialists linda janet & Steve sock it to each other!!
Gagg should THANK his God that he has made such a good livin' while achieving an F!!!
Only in America!!
Not able to go out with a press conference
Just a piece of paper
Wake up those who think their fellow man./...men from Mexico.... hard working R the problem
Honestcop writes:
Congressman Gallegly - if you're reading this, please know that I and thousands of others appreciate your many years of loyal service, always standing up for what's right in America. Of course, all of the negative comments come from the left wingers who still struggle with the concept that the majority of people in our community elected you into office.
As for your replacement, I hope it will be a person with solid Republican credentials who can assist in this year's defeat of the worst president in the USA - the Bystander in Chief Obama.
Q_E_Public writes:
Wow! You liberal ideologues are so blinded by your hatred of conservative constitutional persona's that it just illustrates the fatal demagoguery you Obama loving, welfare lazies are stricken with.
Congressman Gallegly has done many great things for Ventura County. Specifically he has championed the cause of one of the poorest communities in this county, that of Santa Paula. Over many years he has supported the maintenance of the Santa Paula creek that over many decades has threatened life and property in our poverty stricken community. He also worked to acquired a brand new fire truck for the municipal fire department further more enhancing the quality of life and safety for the citizens of Santa Paula. Note: Santa Paula is a community that is 70% Hispanic and inherently 90% impoverished to boot.
Chilibreath writes:
Darn good post, I'm with you 100 percent! Fingers crossed that Elton is not replaced by some weak-kneed RINO who is more interested in keeping peace with the liberal majority rather than roll up his/her sleeves and kick some Demo butt. It may be years (if ever) before we regain balance in CA politics, but for the sake of the state if not the country, level-headed pragmatism has to win out over touchy-feely save-the-whales-the sky-is-falling-smoke-a-cigarette-go-to-jail left-wing foolishness. Like it or not, CA is the laughing stock of the American mainstream, and there does not appear to be a chance for hope anytime soon.
Seneca1854 writes:
Fantastic news. Too bad he was allowed to sit so long in Congress doing very little, all at great expense to the taxpayers.
Oceans12 writes:
Who gives a flyin' #(%$
Cam_Cracker writes:
My statement stands. A "bench warmer" for too long. This county needs a congress person who will do work and contribute for the benefit of ALL who reside in Ventura County. In the 22 years, it been a lack luster performance...on the public dime!
raylaw43#321876 writes:
This should be fun as the Republican fanatics eat their own. I am looking forward to town halls. I will not ask anyone to prove their conservative or liberal credentials, like the current crop of GOP presidential candidates are trying to do: who is more socially conservative; who is more fiscally conservative.
Let the fun begin.
jjohnjj writes:
Republicans have never wanted a "solution" to illegal immigration, they just want to keep their hand on the valve that controls the supply of cheap labor. Gallegly was clueless enough to maintain the charade on behalf of his party for 25 years.
Helping cities to secure federal dollars for flood control projects, fire fighting equipment and freeway landscaping is fine with me. But a Democrat can do the same without turning around and campaigning against "big spending government". We don't need that kind of hypocrisy anymore.
bikey1 writes:
What "importance" is significant to an immigrant that isn't to a born native?...
Roseeeea writes:
It's a sad day for all of us here in Ventura County. He will be missed.
Lois Capps should do the same thing before her wings get clipped in the coming election.
nobaloney writes:
SOAR Socialists. Good one.
ms_reason writes:
I'm looking forward to helping elect a Representative who knows the importance of illegal immigration and enforcing the laws that are in place. Community involvement encouraging illegal immigration needs to cease.
lmcventura#398656 writes:
Good Riddance!!!
Hey_Scapegoat writes:
There is a current member of the college board who told me to my face (around 1991), "I hope someone shoots Gallegly for what he is doing to Mexicans"-I knew then and I still believe-that Gallegly was an effective fighter against the encroachment and expense of illegal aliens from Central America. So you are wrong.
VenturaVoter21 writes:
Tony Strickland and Andy Fox will run.
Linda Parks will not give up her seat on the board to run like Bennett has. Bennett will be back teaching before this is over.
2BR_BZT writes:
YAY and YAY, again....:)
Traditional writes:
Ray: Fun watching the Reps? The stage has already been set to watch the half-dozen Dems eat their own and see who can out-left the other.
I surmise the Reps will have one solid candidate that will take the prize.
athomp810 writes:
Nice! This race become more and more exciting. It's a bummer all the candidates besides David Cruz Thayne are career politicians. Let's go Cruz Thayne!
tsomer writes:
Hallelujah! Worst. Representative. Ever.
focalmatic writes:
Guess I wasted 5 minutes filling out his 2012 survey.
luv2teachu writes:
Thank you for staying true to your constituents and conservative values. Ventura County will miss your representation, and will have to work hard to see that we don't end up with a representative that would make the negative whiners on this blog happy!
jackpoint writes:
I knew this COWARD would never run in a BALANCED district. All these years he has been given a free pass for his lock step voting and total LACK of legislation. We have a bed in GITMO waiting for him.
fibus writes:
The biggest case Totten has, had and ever will have is the corruption in Oxnard. DA Totten should finish that with at least a reasonable number of indictments and arrests before he throws his hat in the ring for another public office.
The Oxnard situation includes public officials both elected and appointed. And private corporations and developers.
DA Totten has said the investigation includes malfeasance and conflict of interest. The public may befieve the investigation is over but it isn't. As of December the investigation was ongoing. It is of interest the Real Estate Fraud section of the DA's office is highly involved.
While the people involved will understand the highly intricate financing and secret deal making law enforcement has the problem of making the case clear to a jury.
After all law enforcement prosecutors, either local or federal want to prosecute successfully.
If DA Totten decides to run my hunch is indictments will come before the last day to file for office.
VenturaVoter21 writes:
Ray, never seen you at a town hall. I look forward to that. You do mean a Demo town hall?
And as far as fun, I never thought anyone regarded fighting for our kids and grand kids financial future a fun event. Clue me in?
And O, by the way. The only way your Bama boy keeps his sit, is if he starts a war with Iran.
He can't brag about his accomplishments. No one is going to drink that water. All he can do to win is say he is still better then his competition. Which is an iffy bet.
Win at any cost is his mode. ie. Chicago politics. A new War would seem the next weapon of choice.
Bill_Hays_Jr writes:
The investigation involving the City of Oxnard does in fact need to come to an end. Another individual that could be involved is Supervisor Zaragoza. Zaragoza was a City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem during the approval of the golf course, Sotelo's sweetheart contract renewal, Riverpark, and other questionable issues. He also hired Andres Herrera as an aide and was serving his office for over two years. Herrera's home was one of the houses searched by the District Attorneys Office.
CityThatCares writes:
The District Attorney won't go after Zaragoza as Zaragoza is able to vote on their budget. I believe Zaragoza was on the City Council when then first first approved to pay for Assistant District Attorneys to assist with the prosecution of gang members. Mind you Oxnard is the only City that does this. The City mig of figured out a way to buy itself. Get out of jail free card. Zaragoza could be facilitating this as he is a vote on Totten's budget, and also is in a lease agreement with the City involving Zaragoza's Oxnard district office in the City Clerks office.
Politics77 writes:
Well now we get to see who Elton endorses as he is not going to let all of his money go to waste and Strickland won't see any of it. I just hope there are as many republicans in the race as democrats so if the vote gets split we don't get two republicans in the general election.
But this is here the real fun will start as we see more repulse come out the shadow and deems react to new opponents. Thayne is still my man as we go forward and all late comers are in for a surprise.
bikey1 writes:
This is YOUR idea of "BALANCED"?
DavidAtkins writes:
Good riddance to do-nothing Gallegly. It's time for a representative who actually shares the values of Ventura County, which is majority Democratic.
TomcatDriver writes:
There will be no celebrating. You see Ventura County and America face an imminent threat that is sure to crop up: Tony Strickland. Right wing tumors never seem to completely go away.
TomcatDriver writes:
An INTELLIGENT person knows why you did not see Gallegly at a town hall. HE NEVER HAD ONE!!!
Unless you define town hall as a special interest club like the Chamber of Commerce.
IsthisAmerica writes:
Leave and never come back!
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