Criticism that she’s an unmarried, childless woman with 20 cats has prompted 17th Assembly District candidate Cathleen Galgiani’s supporters to fire back.

Three-term Democrat Barbara Matthews of Tracy — Galgiani’s former boss — stars in a recent television ad on local cable defending Galgiani’s family values and accusing Gerry Machado’s campaign of purposely using personal attacks to garner votes.

But the Tracy Republican said he had nothing to do with the comments made by his campaign manager, Chris Orrock, or the inflammatory statements made by Dean Andall, nor anything they might imply.

“I’ve never said it,” Machado said. “I never raised that. It’s more of a distraction, and I would rather talk about things that do matter.”

Galgiani campaign manager Robin Adam disagreed.

“It was a very intentionally laid message,” he said. “By bringing up that she’s unmarried and childless, they suggested that she has no sense of family values. It’s just offensive.”

Machado said he would rather focus on the over-spending problem in Sacramento, the tax burden on average citizens and what he calls a “crisis” regarding illegal immigration.

“I’d rather talk about valley values and the $20 billion a year tax burden brought on by illegal immigration,” he said. “If the feds don’t do something about (illegal immigration), we will.”

The criticism of Galgiani could come up when the two candidates square off in a forum sponsored by the Tracy Press on Thursday night.

“I think that comment has backfired and is indicative of the approach (Machado’s) campaign is taking,” Adam said.

Galgiani will likely argue Thursday that her job as Matthew’s chief of staff and her work with other top Democrats gives her the experience to succeed in the Assembly.

As the Nov. 7 Election Day looms closer, the two camps will be doing a lot of talking — at Thursday’s forum, in the press, on radio and television, and in campaign fliers published from Tracy to Merced.

When it’s over, the final bill for both campaigns will likely top $1.5 million.

Galgiani now has $1.14 million to spend, thanks to a $350,000 donation from party committees in Sacramento and San Diego last week. Galgiani’s tally from the Democratic Party is slightly less than $770,000.

Machado, a Tracy Unified School District board trustee, has $467,000 in his war chest, $125,000 of which has come from the Republican Party.

He’ll get another cash injection when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger goes to a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser at noon Oct. 20 at The Reserve at Spanos Park golf course. Takers will get a VIP photo opportunity with the governor, while those who pay $250 will get hors d’oeuvres and a chance to contribute to what some think is one of the state’s most-hotly contested Assembly races.