U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly's recent charge in the Thousand Oaks Acorn that I do not live in the 24th Congressional District is irrelevant and misleading, although typical of a Washington Republican trying desperately to get reelected without having to defend his voting record. In reality, the sole requirements for running for Congress from a district in California are as follows: be 25 years old, be a resident of California, pay a filing fee of $1,600 (3,000 in lieu signatures), be a registered member of the party you wish to represent, and collect 40 to 60 signatures from registered voters of your political party who live in the district.

A more accurate and pertinent question is who's the more qualified candidate to represent the constituents in this district on the national and local level.

I've worked and lived in the 24th District for nearly 13 years. I've worked closely with many of the cities represented in this district, bringing in millions of dollars to Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, representing interests of people who have traditionally not had a voice in the political process.

I take the time to visit as many communities within the district as possible so that I can meet with the people on a personal level to learn about and understand the issues that are most important to them. When was the last time Elton left Simi Valley to visit constituents? Can he even name from memory all the cities and regions that make up the district?

Why not discuss the really important issues of the day, such as the ill-conceived and misled war in Iraq, the spiraling national deficit and the politics of insecurity versus concrete plans for really secure borders and ports, when the distraction and relative triviality of the perils of gerrymandered redistricting is readily available?

The fact is, I've owned my home in Oxnard for seven years, and before purchasing it, I rented an apartment in Ventura for six years. When I bought my home in Oxnard, it was technically in the 24th, but, as Gallegly must surely know, the district boundaries were altered by reapportionment after the 2000 census. The issue Gallegly brings up is neither relevant nor honest. Certainly, being a representative for 20 years, he should be familiar with the rules. However, for the record, because of my frequent trips north and the length of the district, I currently have an apartment in Lompoc, which, as Gallegly must recall, is indeed part of the district. Gallegly should be ashamed to even bring up such an irrelevant point, especially considering that Oxnard is surrounded by Ventura and Camarillo, both of which are in the 24th, and I work in those communities all the time. Perhaps he would have a point if I lived in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Instead of making misleading and erroneous accusations in a local newspaper, Gallegly would better serve his constituents by agreeing to appear with me in open forums or debates, so that the voters of this district can get a clearer idea of where we stand. Jill Martinez Oxnard