PHOTO BY MARC THOMAS KALLWEIT, ©2008 MARC THOMAS KALLWEIT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
contributed photo Steve Knight
The two leading Republican candidates in the 25th Congressional District primary now both have local backers with ties to the House of Representatives in their corner.
Retired Simi Valley Rep. Elton Galleglyon Wednesday endorsed state Sen. Steve Knight in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Santa Clarita. McKeon is backing former state Sen. Tony Strickland.
Knight, who lives in Palmdale, called the support from Gallegly “a mammoth endorsement,” in large part because it represents a vote of confidence from someone who is “hugely respected” in the Simi Valley part of the district that is Strickland’s home base.
“This is the congressman who represented Simi Valley for 13 terms,” Knight said. “I always knew he had a great reputation in Simi Valley, and I reached out early in the campaign and talked to him.”
Gallegly publicly announced the endorsement at a Knight fundraiser Wednesday evening at the Simi Valley home of Fred and Debbie Thomas. Also hosting the event were Supervisor Peter Foy and his wife, Tara.
At the event, Gallegly said he had had the difficult task of calling Strickland on Wednesday afternoon to tell him he was backing Knight.
“I thought really long and hard about it. The issue is who can hold this seat and who we can trust,” Gallegly said.
He said he was honored to endorse Knight, whom he thinks will run a grass-roots campaign and connect with residents.
“I make a firm commitment that I will be with him shoulder to shoulder until June 3, and from that day until November I’ll continue to be should to shoulder with him,” Gallegly said.
Simi Valley Mayor Pro Tem Glen Becerra and City Council members Steve Sojka and Mike Judge also attended the fundraiser.
Knight on Wednesday described himself as “extremely honored” and “proud” to have Gallegly’s endorsement.
He also said it was very important to have the support of the council members.
“I thank you for your support and your help. It means an awful lot,” Knight told them.
Strickland said he was disappointed in Gallegly’s decision but thinks the endorsements he has received may be more beneficial.
“No one has represented that district other than Buck McKeon, and I’ll take Buck McKeon’s endorsement over anyone else,” Strickland said. “It’s also powerful that I have the endorsement of the entire presidential ticket.”
Strickland, who was chairman of Mitt Romney’s California campaign, has been endorsed by Romney and his 2012 running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. In announcing his endorsement last month, Romney called Strickland “exactly who we need in Congress Tony will fight to limit government spending and support economic policies designed to create jobs.”
Gallegly said earlier Wednesday that he expressed concern early on over Strickland’s plan to run in the neighboring 25th District, even though he lives outside the district in Moorpark and was a candidate in Ventura County’s 26th Congressional District two years ago.
Because he thinks Strickland does not have deep roots in the district, Gallegly said he believed Knight would be the stronger Republican candidate in the fall to keep the district in the GOP’s hands.
The former congressman said his decision should not be interpreted as a slight to Strickland.
“I am supporting Steve. I’m not opposing Tony,” Gallegly said. “I consider Tony a friend and a very nice guy. If Tony wins the primary, I will support him in the fall.”
Knight and Strickland are among eight candidates in the district, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Simi valleys, as well as parts of the northern San Fernando Valley.
Also on the ballot are Republicans Troy Castagna and Navraj Singh; Democrats Lee Rogers and Evan “Ivan” Thomas; Libertarian David Brucel; and independent Michael Mussack.
Because Rogers has raised more than $250,000 and has the endorsement of the Democratic Party, most analysts think he will win one of the top two slots in the June 3 primary. Strickland and Knight are considered the leading contenders for the second spot.
Strickland, who formed a congressional campaign committee in early 2013 when he was thinking of running again in the 26th District, enjoys a huge fundraising lead over Knight. As of April 1, Strickland had more than $600,000 in his account, or about six times the amount held by Knight.
Because of the fundraising disparity, Gallegly called the race a “David vs. Goliath” contest, with Strickland in the role of Goliath.
But Gallegly said he has been impressed by Knight’s efforts so far.
“I’ve never seen a campaign that is more truly grass-roots,” he said. “It has to be, because he doesn’t have the same Washington connections.”
Correspondent Rachel McGrath contributed to this story.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/may/14/gallegly-endorses-knight-in-25th-congressional/#ixzz31lHAVhLg
- vcstar.com
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