I don't think Rep. Elton Gallegly is running for re-election.
I don't have any insider knowledge or solid proof. It is just my guess.
The other area Members of Congress release their schedule, update their social media pages, and hold townhall forums. Rep. Elton Gallegly doesn't do that type of stuff often.
He doesn't hold townhall meetings that are open and free to the public. But he does have fundraisers where you can pay to ask him questions. I'm surprised he is asking for donations when he hasn't announced if he is running again. Maybe this is a hint he does plan to run again.
Why is he always among the last local politician to declare if he is running again? The rumor is he doesn't want Tony Strickland to be able to run for his seat. What's your theory?
The top conservative political blogger on Californian politics has called on him to announce his intentions soon for the good of his party. Here is what Jon Fleischman told Ventura County Star Reporter Timm Herdt:
"Every other incumbent member of Congress is busy announcing their plans. What is it that's special about Elton Gallegly?" Fleischman asked. "Elton Galleglyland is the same place the rest of us live."
Fleischman said Republican activists statewide are watching Gallegly very closely because of the incident in 2006 when he announced at the last minute that he intended to retire, only to change course after discovering he could not have his name removed from the ballot because he had already submitted his declaration of candidacy.
"He no longer gets the benefit of the doubt after that shameful maneuver in which he clearly tried to pick his successor," he said.
Gallegly's indecision could hurt Republicans' chances nationally and statewide, especially if he ultimately decides to retire, Fleischman said. Such a move would cost Strickland months of fundraising and organizing time to put together a campaign for a vital congressional seat and, in turn, handicap Assemblyman Cameron Smyth in putting together a campaign for a critical seat in the state Senate.
"If he wants to run for re-election, he should announce that now, and I think he'd be the front-runner," Fleischman said. "It's irresponsible to make no decision."
Interesting that Jon Fleischman doesn't believe Gallegly had a health issue as he claimed when he tried and failed to get his name off of the ballot in 2007. Instead Fleischman is blunt and accused Gallegly of trying to rig the process to make it impossible for other candidates to run. To my conservative readers: Who do you believe more? Gallegly or Fleischman?
Click here for a link to his latest fundraiser.
http://tinyurl.com/pay-To-ask
I suspect that Jon Fleischman has the best analysis. Remember that the Republican Party in Ventura County has had some vicious factional battles in years past, and the animosities from that have not all gone away. Elton probably wants to bequeath his Congressional seat to a hand-picked successor, or at the very least make sure that it doesn't go to someone he strongly dislikes. Tony Strickland would fall in the latter category.
Politicians who have remained in office for a long time develop a sense of entitlement; it's "their" seat. In the past, when gerrymandering combined with the huge fundraising and name recognition advantages of incumbency, many Congressmembers expected (with good reason) to have a lifetime sinecure. So wave elections such as in 2010 came as an almost incomprehensible shock to many entrenched representatives around the country. Now the redistricting commission is having a similar impact for a number of them in California for 2012.
Elton Gallegly is one of those Representatives. His safe seat has evaporated. He'll either have to fight hard (and quite possibly lose) in a new, much less favorable district, or he'll have to let some other Republican not of his choosing contest for it. I don't think he has yet come to grips with this reality.
Elont Gallegly is a career politician who has accomplished zero while in Congress. Elton Gallegly's legacy is that of a college drop-out GOP-ass-kissing-douchebag who depended entirely on a gerrymandered district and constituents who aren't engaged in the what's going on. That's not the case anymore. People are pissed a career politicians like Elton Gallegly.
Elton Gallegly's last reason for running for Congress was "he loves his Congressional lifestyle". Is that the character of person we want represennting us? Absolutely not.
I hope Elton Gallegly does run. He needs to feel the anger of his constituents. He won't let us do it at a town hall meeting so let's do it at the polls.
Mark my words, Gallegly will run again. He's fundraising like there's no tomorrow, so that should make it pretty clear.
Let's take a truth break
Elton Gallegly doesn't want Tony Strickland taking his seat. Tony's been bugging him for years "when are you retiring, when are you retiring" it's caused a riff between them.
Currently, Elton Gallegly is milking as much money as he can before he is officially thrown out of office. The question is will Elton's political supporters get a return on their investment? Who will Elton endorse? Elton Gallegly's current fundraising could simply be for a person he plans on endorsing to replace him. If Elton Gallegly truly cared about Americans he would hold town hall meetings, but just like Herman Cain everybody is asking; "where is the cheese"?
Either way, Republicans will take this seat again. The only question is will it be Elton or will it be Tony?