Elton W. Gallegly (born March 7 1944), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, currently representing the 24th District of California (map).

Born in Huntington Park, California on March 7 1944, Gallegly graduated from high school and later from California State University, Los Angeles. He worked as a real estate broker before entering politics. Gallegly is a former member of the Simi Valley, California City Council. He became Simi Valley's first elected mayor in 1982, a position that he held before the House. Gallegly is married to the former Janice Shrader, and has four children.

Gallegly is a member of the Resources Committee, the Internationalrelations Committee, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. As a congressman, he often touts his 98% attendance record in the legislature. He has gained a reputation as a hawkish Republican and has made illegal immigration one of his top issues.

Rep. Gallegly is the only representative from California who has formally argued against legislation that would prevent the federal government from impeding the implementation of state medical marijuana laws, despite California's vote to decriminalize marijuana for medical use in 1996.

Rep. Gallegly is opposed to leasing low-pollution, fuel-efficient vehicles such as the Toyota Prius because that car is not made in America. He currently leases a taxpayer-funded Ford Expedition. But a little-noticed amendment to last year's energy bill requires House members who lease vehicles through their office budgets to drive cars that emit low levels of greenhouse gases.

Attempted retirement

On March 10, 2006, Gallegly announced his intent to retire from the House of Representatives after the 2006 mid-term elections, citing health concerns. He had already filed nomination papers to seek another term, however, and attempted to have his name removed from the Republican primary ballot. California election law, though, makes it clear that a candidate's name can only be withdrawn in the case of their death and, as a result, that Gallegly's name would have to remain on the ballot.

The following week, after learning that he could not have his name removed from the ballot and that no new challengers would be allowed to enter the race, Gallegly changed his mind and decided to seek what he said would be his final term.

In late April, 2007, however, Gallegly announced his intention to seek yet another term in 2008.

2008 Primary Election

Gallegly is being challenged by Republican Michael Tenenbaum in the June, 2008 primary

• Republican - Michael Tenenbaum

2008 Democratic Challengers

• Mary Pallant
• Jill Martinez
• Marta Jorgensen

Committee assignments

• Judiciary Committee
• Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law
• Natural Resources Committee
• Subcommittee on Insularinay Affairs
• Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Subcommittee on Europe
• Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

References

External links

• Michael TenenbaumRepublican primary challenger
• U.S. Representative Elton Gallegly official House site
• Federal Election Commission — Elton Gallegly campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Elton Gallegly issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Elton Gallegly campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Elton W. Gallegly (CA) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Elton Gallegly profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Elton Gallegly voting record
• Elton Gallegly for U.S. Congress official campaign site
• Virtual Audio Debate between Gallegly and Martinez