Elton Gallegly

Elton Gallegly
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 24th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Brad Sherman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 23rd district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Anthony C. Beilenson
Succeeded by	Lois Capps
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 21st district
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Bobbi Fiedler
Succeeded by	Bill Thomas
Mayor of Simi Valley
In office 1980–1986
Member of the Simi Valley City Council
In office 1979–1979
Born	March 7, 1944 (1944-03-07) (age 66) Huntington Park, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Janice Shrader
Residence	Simi Valley, California, U.S.
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Non-denominational Protestantism
Signature

Elton William Gallegly (born March 7, 1944) is the U.S. Representative for California's 24th congressional district, and previously the 23rd and 21st, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.

[edit] Early life, education and career

Born in Huntington Park, California on March 7, 1944, Gallegly graduated from high school and attended California State University, Los Angeles but did not graduate. 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.

[edit] U.S. House of Representatives

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
  • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
• Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Europe (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
• Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
  • Subcommittee on Terrorism/HUMINT, Analysis and Counterintelligence

[edit] Animal cruelty

Representative Gallegly’s most recent activism has been focused on the issue of animal rights. Gallegly himself wrote a bill, enacted in 1999, which made it a federal crime to sell videos of dogfights and other depictions of animal violence.^[1][2] However, on April 20, 2010, the Supreme Court of the United States, in an 8-1 ruling written by Chief Justice John Roberts, overturned Gallegly's law on the ground that the law violated the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, and created a "criminal prohibition of alarming breadth."^[1]

In his defense, Representative Gallegly argued that the bill he wrote contained "exceptions for religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, and artistic expression [that] may have provided too many loopholes within the legislation.^[2] Bob Stevens was convicted of committing animal cruelty as defined by the law, but claimed that his rights to free speech and artistic expression protected him against prosecution."^[2] Representative Gallegly objected to Stevens’ defense, claiming that the videos “promote violence and, as such, are not protected by the Constitution.”.^[3]

[edit] Political campaigns

[edit] 2006 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.

[edit] 2008

Gallegly was challenged by Republican Michael Tenenbaum in the June 2008 primary, of which Gallegly won. The Democratic primary contained Mary Pallant, Jill Martinez, and Marta Jorgensen, won by Jorgensen.

In the November general election Gallegly and Jorgensen faced off. Gallegly won 58% to 42%.

[edit] 2010

Gallegly ran again for re-election in November 2010, beating back a challenge from Democratic candidate Tim Allison, a small-businessman and educator.^[4]

The top 5 groups or industries that have contributed cash to Representative Gallegly's 2009/2010 campaign are: (1) Retirees: $39,484 (2) Real Estate: $35,578 (3) Lawyers/Law Firms: $29,374 (4) Pharmaceuticals: $22,500, and (5) Crop Production/Processing $20,179.^[5]

[edit] Personal life

Gallegly is married to the former Janice Shrader, and has four children.

[edit] See also

• Gallegly amendment

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Representative Elton Gallegly official U.S. House site
• Elton Gallegly for U.S. Congress official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at SourceWatch