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Democrats will run in Gallegly's 24th District
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This year's race to represent most of Ventura County in the U.S. House of Representatives is starting to look a lot like the 2006 contest.
On Tuesday, the day after Republican Congressman Elton Gallegly filed for re-election, Oak Park Democrat Mary Pallant turned in signed petitions that could put her on the Democratic ballot in the June 3 primary. Pallant ran briefly in 2006 but dropped out before the primary.
Gallegly's opponent in 2006, Oxnard Democrat Jill Martinez, also plans to run again, she said Wednesday. A Democrat from Solvang, Marta Jorgensen, has expressed interest, too.
Gallegly has represented the 24th District since 1986. The district includes all of Ventura County except for Port Hueneme, Oxnard and western Ventura, along with most of the inland portions of Santa Barbara County.
Candidates have until March 7 to qualify for the ballot, by paying a $1,652 fee or submitting petitions with at least 3,000 signatures. Pallant is the only Democrat so far who has filed paperwork; county election officials must verify the signatures before she can qualify for the ballot.
"Last time I put my foot in the water and didn't file, because at the end of the day, the timing just wasn't right for me and it wasn't right for a Democrat," Pallant said. "But that's changed. The impetus for change is much stronger than it was in 2006."
Gallegly has won more than 60 percent of the vote in each of his past three victories. In 2006, he finished with 61 percent to Martinez's 39 percent.
Martinez and Pallant both said they think the Democratic nominee will have a better chance this year. The party is stronger nationwide, and in the 24th District, it is gaining on the Republicans in registration numbers.
"With effort, he can be beat. We just have to be more intentional about it and have a greater outreach," Martinez said. "I have the experience and the name recognition now, so I think I'm a much stronger candidate."
Pallant, 47, lives in Oak Park and is the chairwoman of the Ventura County Commission for Women. She is also the founder, coordinator and moderator of a speakers' series that has brought Ambassador Joe Wilson, author Gore Vidal and other big names to Ventura County.
Martinez, 57, is a Presbyterian minister and a consultant for the affordable housing nonprofit People's Self-Help Housing.
Jorgensen, a Democratic Party activist and campaigner in northern Santa Barbara County, did not return a call seeking her comment.
This time around, the Democrats will probably have a contested primary. In 2006, there were a few candidates in the race early on, but only Martinez wound up on the ballot.
"It's always exciting when you have competition in the primary," Pallant said. "That's what democracy's about, and I think it makes whoever wins a stronger candidate."
Posted by holdenon_2000 on February 14, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gallegly is racist. Every time he eats Mexican food someone should spit in his burrito. He is the idiot who has taken the rights of my son, by not allowing my son's Mother to raise my son in his homeland, the United States. Because of Gallegly I can't get my Wifes Visa to stay here in the United States, because I don't have any hardships to justify keeping her Visa status. I make too much money, but If I were poor, I would have a better chance of keeping my wifes Visa status. Sounds funny, but its the truth, because I can afford child care, the new law that Gallegly propositioned, keeps my wife from staying in this country to raise my American Son. Since he is Bush's lapdog, why doesn't he see that Immigration reform is a must.
Posted by sslocal on February 14, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When you say "immigration reform is a must" you mean amnesty right? The problem you are having is that your wife is here illegally. If you don't break the law, life is pretty easy here. If you do, you get in trouble and end up spewing forth racist comments like yours.
For all you left wing nuts, where is the tolerance you are supposed to support? Does this only apply to people that think like you? Hardly seems fair to behave like you do. You don't like Elton, don't vote for him. But spare us your hatred and invectives as there is to much in the world already.
Posted by rjlebeck on February 15, 2008 at 5 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SSlocal,
I reckon I know what the "SS" stands for based on the totality of your comments.
How is it that any discussion of our congressman quickly devolves into a racial mosh pit? That alone should be the first clue as to what Mr. Gallegly stands for and who he represents. The public is sick of the ignorance and the divisiveness that passes as statesmanship in this country.
As far as the immigration issue is concerned, any reasonable person understands that some of the 12 to 20 million illegal aliens currently residing in this country will be afforded some path toward citizenship. The only question is: who and how many? Gallegly is not as interested in solving the immigration problem as much as he is willing to bat it around like a bloody pinata.
Let's have a real election this year and give Mary Pallant an opportunity to be heard before making the same old, tired, and worn out attacks on anybody who isn't a right-wing clone.
Give 'em hell Mary!
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