Hart School Board member Paul Strickland announced Tuesday that he’s running for state Assembly in the newly redrawn 38th District. He made the formal announcement on SCVTV’s “Newsmaker of the Week” show.

Strickland’s announcement doubled the number of candidates for the seat that will open up when Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, is termed out next year. Patricia McKeon, wife of U.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, previously announced her candidacy for the same seat.

COC Board member Scott Wilk is expected to run as well, but has not yet announced.

All three are Republicans. No Democrat has publicly announced his or her intentions.

The filing period doesn’t open until February, so there is still time for the final field of candidates to ake shape. They will face each other in an open primary next June.

Strickland is in his third term on the governing board of the William S. Hart Union High School District. He previously served a term on the Sulphur Springs School Board.

This month he was appointed chairman of the city of Santa Clarita’s Arts Commission. He was a founding member of the Arts Commission when it was created two years ago by action of the City Council. He has a 30-year background in the film and television industry as an animator. He also hosts the weekly “Thursday Matinee” art and entertainment program on KHTS AM-1220 and SCVTV.

Strickland’s day job is field deputy to the current officeholder, Smyth.

“I am entering this race not to continue the ongoing California business-as-usual political posturing,” Strickland said, “but to initiate resolutions to the unfunded state mandates that thwart local school districts, small businesses and municipalities.”

“We need to rescind antiquated, restrictive laws, and promote local control over resource allocations. I have the time and the energy to make things happen,” he said.

Paul Strickland is not related to Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Thousand Oaks – or as he says, Tony Strickland is not related to him.

Paul Strickland is a 28-year resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, where he and his wife Robin have raised three children.