U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) did his party and himself a disservice by withdrawing from the congressional race at the last possible moment and then reversing himself a few days later.

Gallegly initially said a "medical problem" forced him to withdraw from the race on the last day that candidates were required by law to file their intent-to-run documents. Gallegly erroneously thought that if an incumbent withdrew, it extended the deadline for new office seekers to apply. That's often the case in city council and other local elections, but it doesn't apply to congressional races.

What's amazing is that a U.S. congressman could make such a fundamental blunder. While Gallegly can't be expected to know everything, at least his staff should have had a clue.

Either they didn't, or they weren't consulted, neither of which says much for Gallegly.

Until now, Gallegly's medical problem has been kept confidential. The congressman supposedly underwent tests and the results weren't available when he had to decide whether to run or not.

Health problems are usually a private matter, but when it's an elected official, especially at the federal level, the public has a right to know, even if it's unpleasant.

Remember when Ronald Reagan was president and polyps of the colon became a topic of public discussion?

Even celebrities sometimes reveal medical conditions that aren't pleasant to talk about, such as Lance Armstrong's testicular cancer and Melissa Etheridge's breast cancer.

The congressman owes it to his electorate to discuss the severity of his problem.

He's the one, after all, who made it an issue.

Gallegly is yielding to the beckoning call of his supporters and has, of course, graciously accepted their request to seek reelection.

Some of us are left to wonder if the whole mess was an abortive attempt by Gallegly to hand pick his replacement. If so, it didn't work and Gallegly says he won't run in 2008.

That's the wisest decision he's made lately.