Elton Gallegly Watch: Election Confusion Divides Ventura County GOP

Ventura County Star: Confusion over Gallegly createsstrife in GOP

Rep. Elton Gallegly, after meeting in Washington, D.C., with his Republican colleagues from California, said Tuesday night he has not yet decided whether he will actively seek re-election.And that uncertainty over his status has led to considerable internal strife within the Ventura County Republican Party.

Ventura County GOP activists and leaders are in turmoil. The Ventura County Republican Chairman, Leslie Cornejo, has endorsed Westlake Vaillage attorney Michael Tenenbaum and apparently will not withdraw this endorsement even if Congressman Gallegly decides to run for re-election.

Peggy Sadler (from Simi Valley and friend of the Congressman), a long-time member of the Ventura County Republican Central Committee and the California Republican Party is sending out correspondence asking everyone “My counsel is definitely to cool it.”

Local GOP Central Committees loathe and shun pre-primary endorsements. They are done all of the time but without the formal endorsement of the Republican Party. Flap should know since he endorsed Elton Gallegly over Tony Hope and Tom LaPorte when Gallegly first ran for the Congress.

Pre-primary endorsements definitely involve risks in the GOP. Pick the wrong candidate and your Republican credentials and career may be over. Pick the right one and you are a rising star.

Elton must make his OWN choice on whether to run.

Flap only hopes that he does so quickly…….

Stay tuned…..

Update #1

Rep. Gallegly has scheduled 4 pm (EST) / 1 pm ( PST) press conference at the Capitol Hill Club

Update #2

Los Angeles Times: Calif. Rep. Gallegly Reverses Retirement

Republican Rep. Elton Gallegly of California reversed course Wednesday and said he will seek re-election to an 11th term rather than follow through on retirement plans he announced last week.

Gallegly, 62, had cited unspecified health reasons when he announced on Friday, the deadline to file for re-election, that he wouldn’t run again to represent the 24th District.

As Flap handicapped. But, what will Republican Michael Tenenbaum do? If he is smart……..

WITHDRAW……

Update #3

From the Flash Report:GALLEGLY TO RUN

Rep. Elton Gallegly has announced at a press conference in Washington D.C. moments ago that he will campaign for the 24th Congressional District. Gallegly indicated that  the White House called to ask him to run and he will aggressively run for re-election. He said that if elected in 2006, it will be his last term. A number of Members stood behind him at the press conference, including Dreier, Calvert, Herger and Issa.  Also there to support Gallegly was Simi Valley City Councilman Glen Becerra ( an FR Friend) , who many run for the open seat in 08.

Flap handicaps the seat will go to Tom McClintock in 2008 even if McClintock wins the California Lt. Governorship this Fall.

Stay tuned…..

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Elton Gallegly Watch: Will Not Seek Re-election or Will he? – REDUX

Elton Gallegly Watch: Will Not Seek Re-election or Will he?

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