I just spoke with Strickland Team insider Joel Angeles, who confirmed for me that if it is true that Elton Gallegly is running for Congress, that former Assemblyman Tony Strickland is prepared to retool his run 
for State Controller into a run for the House of Representatives. You can be very sure that the first endorser that Strickland would get for this race would be that of the local Assemblywoman, his wife, Audra. Right after that, look for the next endorsements to come from two opposite sides of the GOP spectrum — the local State Senator, Tom McClintock, would certainly support his close ally running for Congress — and of course State Senator Abel Maldonado would be pleased as punch to have a free ride to the GOP nomination for State Controller.
There is one legal question running through my mind right now — about whether Strickland can ‘unring’ the bell on his filed candidacy for State Controller — and what happens with that. One thing is for sure, Strickland is a tough campaigner, and you can be sure that he would be the instant front-runner to succeed Gallegly.
(H/T to FR contributor Amy Thoma who says that Strickland had not yet returned his Controller papers…)
That said, don’t count out the Congressman’s desire to have someone else, likely Simi Councilman Glen Becerra, elected to his seat.
As Matt Drudge says… developing…