Terry said she went on welfare after she separated from Galley in July
1981.
She provided Michigan court records to show Galley defaulted on
support payments for their two children in the 1980s, which forced the
Michigan welfare system to obtain the money through legal proceedings.
When asked about the child support, Galley first said he was only in
default for several months because of a back injury.
He later acknowledged that money was garnisheed from his paychecks for
four years but said it was because of a billing mix-up and his money
was ultimately refunded.
However, Beth, who is now Beth Bradford and lives in Santee, said
Galley told her he couldn't afford the support payments to Terry
because he was supporting Beth's two children.
Galley said that when he married Beth, "I had honestly thought that my
divorce had gone through on the first marriage."
Galley is married to his third wife, Carol.
In addition to his "pro-traditional family" stance, Galley promotes
his belief in a "strong military."
During interviews, Galley has touted his military service as an
advantage over other candidates in the congressional race, saying he
was drafted by the Navy during the Vietnam War.
His Web site states, "I was drafted it (sic) to the Navy, serviced my
time," and then later joined the Army.
Galley's military records, obtained by the Union-Tribune through a
Freedom of Information Act request, show he started his Navy service
April 29, 1974, and was discharged less than six weeks later, while in
"recruit training."
Navy spokesman Lt. William Marks said the Navy stopped the draft July
1, 1973, nine months before Galley started his Navy service.
When asked about the discrepancy, Galley insisted that he was drafted,
saying he was notified partway through training camp that the Navy had
a "reduction in force" and no longer needed him.
Navy officials said privacy laws prevent them from saying whether
Galley was drafted or volunteered.
They also said they couldn't comment on the reason for his discharge.
Marks would only say that Galley's explanations are "plausible."
After serving in the Navy, Galley's Web site states, he went to work
for General Motors, and then "because of massive layoffs in the '70s I
enlisted into the Army."
His records show he did not enter the Army until February 1981.
He left the Army in December 1984.
His explanation for this discrepancy: "I got the dates wrong."
In February 1988, while Galley, Beth and her two teenage children were
living in Lemon Grove, court records show that she obtained a
temporary restraining order against Galley.
She alleged in court records that she filed for the order after he
repeatedly punched and kicked her, slapped her son twice and
threatened to kill a neighbor.
"He used to only hit me and now he is hitting my children. I'm very
scared of what my husband is capable of," Beth wrote.
Galley said he never saw the court records.
He also said her accusations are false.
He said she filed the papers just to get him removed from the house.
Beth believes voters should know how Galley's personal history
contradicts the foundation of his campaign.
She started trying to bring attention to her ex-husband's past to
state and federal elected officials when she learned he was running
for office in 2004.
"What galls me the most, one that he has the . . . (nerve) to do this,
thinking that he could get away with this and he has for all these
years," she said.
"(And two) that he's got people believing in him."
From The Union-Tribune, 6/2/06:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20060602-9999-7m2galley.html
By Caitlin Rother
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Republican Jim Galley, who is running for Congress as a
"pro-traditional family" candidate, was married to two women at the
same time, defaulted on his child support payments and has been
accused of abuse by one of his ex-wives.
The San Diego Union-Tribune discovered the personal history in making
public-records checks on Galley, who is making his fourth run for
elective office in four years.
These checks are part of the newspaper's election reporting process.
Galley married his second wife, Beth, in 1982 when, unbeknownst to
her, he was still married to his first wife, Terry.
Beth and Galley divorced in 1990 after she sought a restraining order
alleging abuse.
The child support was owed to his first wife.
Galley said the contemporaneous marriages were a mistake because he
thought his first divorce had been completed.
He said the child support default was only for a few months and that
the abuse allegation was made only to get him out of the house.
_______________________________________________________
Another tale from that magnificent world of right-wing "Family Values"
Harry
.
|
