Although the election is not until June 5, endorsements and support continues to roll in for candidates of the 38th Assembly District seat currently held by Cameron Smyth. Republican Paul Strickland is the lastest candidate to make the announcements.

Strickland, a member of the William S. Hart Union High School District, said  he is pleased to announce the support of board colleagues Gloria Mercado Fortine and Bob Jenson. Other local school board members have offered their support: Bruce Fortine from the College of Canyons Board of Trustees; Michael Hogan, Sheldon Wigdor, Dr. Kerry Klegg, and Shelly Weinstein from the Sulphur Springs Union School District; Suzan Solomon from the Newhall School District; Judy Umeck and Stephen Winkler from the Saugus Union School District, and David Huffaker from the Castaic Union School District.

The lone Democratic candidate Edward Headington lists the following endorsements: Actor and activist Ed Begley Jr., Newhall School District Board Member Christy Smith and state Controller John Chiang.

Republican candidate Patricia McKeon, wife of U.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, lists the following endorsements: Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Sheriff Lee Baca, and District Attorney Steve Cooley.

Republican candidate Scott Wilk, recently re-elected to the College of the Canyons Board of Trustees, lists the following endorsements: Sen. Tony Strickland, Rep. Tom McClintock, Sen. Sharon Runner and her husband, Board of Equalization Member George Runner.

Paul Strickland is on leave as field representative for Smyth who has thus far declined to endorse a candidate. Strickland is a 28-year resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, where he and his wife Robin have raised their three children.

According to a Strickland press release, Newhall trustee Suzan Solomon said: “I’ve spent a long time in Sacramento working on legislative and educational issues, I know that Sacramento needs real leadership. We need to elect people who do not make decisions based on pure politics, but in the common interest. And that leader for the 38th District is Paul Strickland. I have enjoyed working with Paul over the years, and I know him to be a person who will rise above partisan politics to do what is best for the people of California’s 38th Assembly District.”