| Elton Gallegly | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 24th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Brad Sherman |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 23rd district |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Anthony C. Beilenson |
| Succeeded by | Lois Capps |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 21st district |
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| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Bobbi Fiedler |
| Succeeded by | Bill Thomas |
| Mayor of Simi Valley | |
| In office 1980–1986 |
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| Preceded by | None (Position Created) |
| Succeeded by | Greg Stratton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 7, 1944 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 in Congress since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party.
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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.
In 1986, incumbent Republican U.S. Congresswoman Bobbi Fiedler decided to retire to run for the U.S. Senate. Gallegy won the primary with 50% of the vote.[1] In the general election, he won with 68% of the vote.[2] He won re-election in 1988 with 69% and in 1990 with 58%. In 1992, he defeated Democrat activist Anita Perez Ferguson 54%-41%.[3] Since then, he won re-election with at least 58% of the vote, except in 2000. That year, he defeated Democrat Michael Case 54%-41%.[4]
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. He won re-election with 62% of the vote.[5]
Gallegly won re-election with 58% of the vote.[6]
Gallegly won re-election with 60% of the vote.[7][8]
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.[9]
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.[10][11] 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."[10]
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.[11] 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."[11] Representative Gallegly objected to Stevens’ defense, claiming that the videos “promote violence and, as such, are not protected by the Constitution.”.[12]
Gallegly is married to the former Janice Shrader, and has four children.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bobbi Fiedler |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 21st congressional district 1987–1993 |
Succeeded by Bill Thomas |
| Preceded by Anthony C. Beilenson |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 23rd congressional district 1993–2003 |
Succeeded by Lois Capps |
| Preceded by Brad Sherman |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 24th congressional district 2003–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Peter DeFazio D-Oregon |
United States Representatives by seniority 33rd |
Succeeded by Wally Herger R-California |