Actually, it sounds like Gallegly's choice was Simi Valley City Councilman Glenn Becerra, but I'm not aware of a Becerra candidacy. As for Tennenbaum, he had already been runnning before Gallegly's decision.
This has become even stranger. Now I don't know what to think. Does anyone have any additional information?
The reporting I saw was to the effect that he'd pulled his papers, but, as of a few days ago, hadn't returned them. One would (probably safely) assume he's made it now. Elton's press release describes his candidacy as unopposed, and mentions that there are a number of good potential choices.
Here's the press release:
http://web.venturacountystar.com/documents/gallegly031006.pdf
Yes. This was a 55.74% Bush district. In other words, it is certainly pickupable by the Dems if the GOP is in disarray. That being said, this catches the Dems flat-footed as well, so who really knows!