Video: Kitty Alvarado

For nearly a month, a lone Republican was seeking his party’s backing for a state Senate seat that is up for grabs in November 2010. Suddenly there were three, and they were all working the same room at a Temecula political function Friday night.

"That wasn’t intended," said Bob Kowell, president of the Murrieta-Temecula Republican Assembly Club, which sponsored the dinner event that attracted about 175 people. Only one of the three – Assemblyman Joel Anderson, R-El Cajon – was slated to speak to the group.

But Anderson – despite his introduction by Kowell and wording on a brochure announcing the event – still hasn’t publicly said he’s seeking the 36th District seat held by Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, who can’t run for re-election due to state term limits.

That vacuum helped create an unusual evening of political theater at the Temeku Hills Clubhouse. At its core was the heavily-Republican state Senate district that is home to more than 850,000 residents and covers portions of Riverside and San Diego counties.

Anderson shared billing at the event with Jose Compean, a former U.S. Border Patrol agent who was convicted in 2006 of shooting and wounding an illegal immigrant – who was later convicted of marijuana smuggling -- and then covering it up.

President George W. Bush issued commutations to Compean and a colleague during his final days in office. Compean was released from federal prison in February after serving two years of his 12-year sentence.

Compean and his colleague became lightning rods in a scorching debate over border security. The Temecula speech was Compean’s first public presentation since his release, and the appreciative audience game him standing ovations at the beginning and end of his remarks.

Anderson, who was one of thousands of officials and citizens who wrote letters to Bush early this year in support of Compean, presented the agent an Assembly proclamation honoring his service.

Anderson also spoke briefly, mainly focusing on California’s budget crisis and a bill he recently introduced that would allow contractors and recipients of state IOUs to apply them to payroll taxes, vehicle registration fees and other payments to the state.

He had been the focus of attention, however, before the Republican event.

Jeff Stone, who parlayed his Temecula ties to become the first supervisor elected from Riverside County’s southwest corner, began giving newspaper interviews early last month that detailed his plans to run for Senate.

The 36th Senate District takes in Murrieta, Temecula, Fallbrook, La Mesa and most of east San Diego County. Much of the electorate – about 377,800 registered voters – live in the San Diego County portion of the district. By contrast, about 133,725 registered voters live in the Riverside County portion, according to recent statistics.

Of the combined area, nearly 235,600 of those voters are Republicans and about 148,000 are Democrats. Another 105,500 voters declined to state a party affiliation. The primary election for state Legislature races will be June 8 and the general election will be held five months later.

About 150 people attended Stone’s "campaign kickoff reception" at the Mount Palomar Winery in Temecula’s Wine Country on June 20. Numerous local, state and federal elected officials praised Stone there and cited his accomplishments.

During his speech, Stone made repeated references to his "unannounced but running opponent from El Cajon." Without naming Anderson, Stone implied that the assemblyman lacked courage by not openly running for higher office.

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Friday’s gathering, Kowell introduced Anderson, Stone and Kenneth Dickson, a Murrieta school board trustee, as state Senate candidates. A brochure mailed to local party members listed Anderson as "Running for California Senate."

Prior to the meal being served, Dickson briefly spoke separately to Anderson and Stone. Stone had a separate conversation with Anderson as the three political leaders separately worked the room. Their brief conversation seemed to focus on Anderson’s recent introduction of Assembly Bill 1506, the state IOU legislation.

In a hallway interview, Dickson, an 11-year school trustee, described himself as a "Reagan Republican" who is looking forward to running for statewide office. He retired as an Air Force judge advocate and environmental counsel – much of that time spent at March Air Reserve Base. He also teaches law courses at Mt. San Jacinto Community College campuses in Menifee and Temecula.

"I’m pretty excited about it," Dickson said of the race. He described himself and his wife as "empty nesters," and said he has the time needed to campaign throughout such a vast district. Dickson said he has strong ties to San Diego County. He deflected a reporter’s question on whether his candidacy would most hurt Stone, because both men share southwest Riverside County as a voter base.

"I don’t want to get into that," he said. "I think it will be an outstanding campaign."

Dickson said he is a member of the Murrieta-Temecula Republican group – which is one of the largest and most active in the nation – and he attended Friday’s function to interact with Anderson and others.

Anderson did not mention the Senate race during his brief speech. He praised Hollingsworth and other local legislators, outlined the need for state staffing cuts, mentioned his Republican Party involvement and urged audience members to write letters or e-mails supporting his IOU legislation.

Stone left the function a short while later, remarking to an acquaintance that he was disappointed Anderson did not mention the Senate race or announce his candidacy.

In an interview after the function ended, Anderson said it would be "premature" to make a formal announcement. He said he has 1½ years left in his Assembly term, and could opt to run for re-election or seek a Senate seat instead.

When pressed by a reporter, Anderson said he expects to make a decision "by the end of the year." He said many supporters have urged him to run, but he still has much work ahead in the Assembly.

He represents Assembly District 77, which is home to more than 420,000 people and takes in all or parts of El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Jamul, Lakeside, Ramona, Alpine, Borrego Springs and the city of San Diego.

"I’m very honored that so many people have made the decision (to run) for me, but I haven’t," Anderson said. He did note, however, that three potential candidates are already lining up to run for his Assembly seat if it does become vacant.

When asked about the Temecula event brochure and his introduction there, Anderson said that was simply speculation on the part of Kowell and others.

In an interview as event participants continued to stream out, Kowell said he has no doubt that Anderson is running. Kowell said he supports Anderson, and he is planning an event to raise money for his Senate campaign.

"He’s told me more than once that he’s running," Kowell said. "He wouldn’t be here working around the room if he wasn’t running."

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