California GOP Sen. Tony Strickland launches bid for Congress

The Sacramento Bee ^ | January 18, 2011 | Torey Van Oot

[Clintonfatigued]

Sen. Tony Strickland has made his plans to run for Congress official, launching his campaign at a Camarillo news conference for the newly drawn 26th Congressional District.

The Moorpark Republican decided to enter the race after longtime Rep. Elton Gallegly announced plans to retire. Gallegly, who lives in Simi Valley, had been considering a run in the incumbent-free CD26 after his own home was drawn into the same district as fellow GOP Rep. Buck McKeon.

Strickland, who served three terms in the Assembly before being elected to the state Senate in 2008, cited national security and promoting alternative energy sources as top issues for his campaign.

"I expect the campaign ahead to be spirited but I'm committed to uniting our community; Republicans, Democrats, and Independents behind policies that create jobs and economic opportunity for those struggling to make ends meet," he said in a statement.

[Clintonfatigued]

This one will be wild and wooly, and that’s on the Republican side alone. Strickland is a well-knwon conservative who’s a protoge of Tom McClintock, but he’ll face a difficult primary. The district leans slightly to the ‘Rat Party, but surprisingly, the Ventura area ‘Rat Party doesn’t seem to have a strong farm team, so to speak.

Here’s some additional inside info if you’re interested:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2833965/posts?page=15#15

[OCCASparky]

Wonderful. Just getting someone to go through the motions to pretend California hasn’t got totally socialist, just so LA and SF can elect the biggest leftist they can find, and screw the rest of the state.

[Zevonismymuse]

This is one of the most conservative districts on the Central Coast of California. While that is not saying much, I am confident Tony Strickland will win the seat. He has done an excellent job as State Senator.

[Moleman]

Another conservative that will side with bug business. I believe this is the guy that owns Strckland Propane down in Texas...

[Bernard Marx]

Wow, thanks for the link to your previous post! I live in the district and you've answered questions I haven't been able to unravel otherwise. I knew there was rivalry between Gallegly and Strickland but not precisely why. And I was most unsettled when Parks (whom I consider to be a slightly conservative Democrat) jumped into the race.

Our local media are hopeless in such matters, being heavily weighted to the Left. I gave up on the Red Star long ago and my hopes for some neutrality for the Acorn papers was dashed when I saw one of the leading reporters is a protege of the infamous Bob Scheer. She and others report in detail on Soros-led outfits in the county.

You seem very well informed on county politics. I'll look for your future posts.

[Clintonfatigued]

I found something surprising to me. Kevin McCarthy has endorsed Tony Strickland, which suggests to me that D.C. fundraising assistance and more endorsements are forthcoming.

[Bernard Marx]

Thanks for the info. Tony’s my pick and I hope McClintock is able to rattle some funding for him from deep D.C. pockets. I’d sure hate to see the district go blue.