I think Elton Gallegly's goal was to win have the GOP County Committees choose his successor. It appears that there are two opposing factions of Ventura area Republicans, the Gallegly faction and the Tom McClintock/Tony Strickland faction. Apparently, Gallegly's faction dominates the committees and his goal was to have Simi Valley Councilman City Councilman Glenn Becerra (a protoge) be nominated to succeed him. His ploy blew up in his face.