Gallegly files for reelection, has Democratic challenger in November
By Sophia Fischer  sfischer@theacorn.com

U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly

Two candidates have filed papers for the U.S. House of Representatives 24th Congressional District race.

Elton Gallegly, the longtime Republican incumbent from Simi Valley, and Mary Pallant, a Democrat from Oak Park, are officially entered in the June primary.

Gallegly is seeking his 12th term in office.

Democrat Jill Martinez and Republican Tim Kalemkarian of Moorpark have pulled their papers but haven't yet filed. Martinez, a Presbyterian minister, ran against Gallegly in 2006. Kalemkarian ran as a write-in candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1994 and for president in 2000. He's also run for Moorpark City Council.

The 24th District covers most of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and includes more than 650,000 residents.

Pallant also was on the ballot two years ago but dropped out before the November 2006 election.

"Much has changed since I first thought of running in 2006," Pallant said.

"The impetus for change is much stronger now, and it is time for a new direction in D.C. and our district."

Mary Pallant, Democratic challenger

Pallant has run a speaker series in Ventura County, hosting notables such as Ambassador Joe Wilson and author Gore Vidal. She's the chair of the Ventura County Commission for Women and is a Democratic delegate for the 41st Assembly District. Pallant also helped form the Ventura County chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America.

Her campaign platform includes pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq within six months, instituting a universal single-payer healthcare system and providing energy independence and environmental protection.

A former Simi Valley mayor, Gallegly has focused on a variety of issues while in Congress, including intelligence, terrorism, illegal immigration and criminal justice. In a recent guest opinion column in the Acorn newspapers, Gallegly called Ventura County's crackdown on illegal immigration a model for local and federal authorities.

After filing his candidacy paperwork in 2006 Gallegly made a surprise announcement that he was retiring due to health concerns. But the decision came too late for his name to be removed from the ballot. Gallegly went ahead and ran, first beating Republican challenger Michael Tenenbaum in the June 2006 primary with more than 80 percent of the vote, and then beating Martinez in November with more than 61 percent of the vote.

Those interested in running for the 24th District have until 5 p.m. on March 7 to turn in their paperwork to the Ventura County Elections Division.