New Twist in Race for Congress

The chaotic 24th Congressional District race, left wide open when the Republican incumbent announced he would not seek reelection, took another turn Monday when one of two Democratic hopefuls said she was dropping out due to “sleazy lies and attacks” by her primary opponent.

Mary Pallant, 45, an Oak Park businesswoman, said Monday that she decided not to file candidacy papers because “her family was getting too traumatized with each lie and attack.”

Pallant said her primary opponent, the Rev. Jill Martinez of Oxnard, had portrayed her as a carpetbagger who owed money to former campaign staff members. Pallant denies the allegations.

“My basic premise was not attacking another Democrat, but they were not abiding by that,” Pallant said.

Pallant briefly considered mounting a write-in campaign after hundreds of supporters called and sent e-mails urging her to continue, she said. But by day’s end Monday, she decided that course would be too difficult and costly.

Martinez did not return phone calls or e-mails seeking comment. But a Democratic operative said Pallant’s sudden departure suggests she was unprepared for the rough-and-tumble nature of politics.

“When you decide to drop out, then maybe drop back in and then really drop out, people look at you kind of strange,” said Bob Handy, regional director for the California Democratic Party.

Rep. Elton Gallegly, 62, withdrew suddenly on Friday, citing unspecified health concerns. Gallegly, who lives in Simi Valley, represents most of Ventura County and parts of Santa Barbara County.

The 10-term congressman’s name will remain on the ballot because he has already filed candidacy papers.

Also, because of the timing of his public announcement -- just three hours before Friday’s filing deadline -- no additional candidates were able to come forward. Now just one Republican challenger, Westlake Village attorney Michael Tenenbaum, 37, a virtual unknown in Ventura County political circles, will appear on the primary ballot with Gallegly.

Gallegly said that when he decided to withdraw, he thought his potential replacements would be given five extra days to file papers.

On Monday, he said he would seek permission from a court or the state Legislature to extend the filing deadline. In a written statement, he also said he would argue that he had received contradictory information on whether he could formally withdraw his candidacy.

If he fails to get permission, he said in the statement, he will look into “further options ... to ensure fairness to the voters of the 24th Congressional District.”

Gallegly didn’t elaborate on what those other options might be. But in an interview over the weekend, he appeared hesitant about resuming a reelection bid, even if voters didn’t have a full slate of choices in his absence.

“Maybe I am being very selfish right now, but I have to get this [medical] issue resolved, and I’m hopeful it will be resolved,” he said Saturday. “I will continue to do everything I can to serve out the rest of this year.... But I have seven grandkids, and I’d like to spend time with them.”

Gallegly left open the possibility of reentering the campaign if his health problems are settled.

Ventura County Republicans are upset that Gallegly waited until the last minute to announce his withdrawal.

Many potential candidates for the seat last week were left blindsided. Some were already running in other races. Others decided that, with the sudden news, the timing was wrong for them.

One potential candidate is Jeff Gorell, 35, a Ventura County prosecutor and Persian Gulf war veteran who lost a primary nomination to Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Moorpark) two years ago.

Gorell said he was interested in mounting a write-in campaign, but only if Gallegly makes clear that he won’t run. Attempting a write-in campaign without Gallegly’s endorsement and the backing of his political organization would be fruitless, Gorell said.

Gallegly is not expected to back Tenenbaum. The congressman said Saturday that he had never met Tenenbaum and was not pleased when the lawyer started criticizing him in the days before the filing deadline.

“You should at least wait until the filing is closed before you start trashing people,” Gallegly said.

Other potential write-in candidates are Mike Stoker, a former Santa Barbara County supervisor who ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) in 2000, and David Tennessen, a Ventura County sheriff’s commander.

“Everyone is kind of waiting for Elton to do something,” Gorell said. “It’s like Caesar on the cusp of the Rubicon River -- everyone’s waiting for him to make a move.”

On the Democratic side, meanwhile, Martinez will have no opponent in the June primary unless a write-in candidate comes forward. No third-party candidates have qualified for what could potentially be an open seat, elections officials said.

“Truth really is stranger than fiction,” said Sharon Hillbrant, chairwoman of the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee, of the race’s twists and turns. “There’s no way anyone could have come up with this scenario.”