ARNOLD DRAWS DIVERSE A.V. TURNOUT ACTOR'S APPEARANCE SPARKS LIVELY DEBATE.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Democrats came. Schoolchildren came. Republicans with money came. Republicans without money came.

More than 1,300 people filled the new Antelope Valley Fairgrounds' Poppy Pavilion on Monday night for a $250-a-plate dinner for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder-turned-actor who is the GOP front-runner to replace Gov. Gray Davis in the chaotic recall election.

Meanwhile, 30-or-so Democrats stood outside the fairgrounds waving signs supporting Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and opposing the recall, joined by Republicans carrying ``Welcome Arnold'' and ``Hasta La Vista Davis'' signs.

``We want to see him,'' said Schwarzenegger supporter Eileen Burnett, a Palmdale aerospace worker standing outside the fenced fair parking lot with her sister and 11-year-old niece.

Niece Amanda Trussell offered to use her own money to pay for a seat at the dinner, but she wasn't allowed, the women said.

``We support what he's done for the communities and the kids,'' said Burnett's sister Wendy Quiroga, also an aerospace worker.

The Democrats picketing nearby said they got mainly smiles and waves from the Republicans driving past.

They said they were there to show support for Davis, to say he has done nothing deserving recall, and to criticize Schwarzenegger as an inexperienced opportunist and to tweak local conservatives for supporting Schwarzenegger despite his stance on issues like abortion and gun control.

``He's a liberal. Why's he running in the Republican Party?'' Democrat Bill Parris said of Schwarzenegger.

Parris has a family split over the recall. His brothers, Lancaster attorneys R. Rex Parris and Robert Parris, were inside the dinner as Bill stood with the pickets outside.

``They all stopped and said 'hi' to me,'' Bill Parris said.

Inside the hall, the diners included Antelope Valley business people, Republican activists, state lawmakers, local school and city officials, even CBS' ``Survivor: Thailand'' winner Brian Heidik, a Quartz Hill resident, and his wife.

Before entering the hall, Schwarzenegger posed for photographs and signed autographs for children representing schools with after-school programs, for which Schwarzenegger last year promoted Proposition 49, a ballot measure that could provide up to $550 million a year in funding.

Diners said they looked to Schwarzenegger to turn around California, beset by a faltering economy and a giant state budget deficit, among other problems.

``I am so looking for reform, particularly with the government handout programs that are so abused. An under-society is what we have created,'' said Quartz Hill Realtor Bruce Hailstone.

Hailstone said he wasn't bothered by Schwarzenegger's lack of specifics in his speech promising to cut spending, reforming the state's expensive workers' compensation system, repealing the vehicle tax increase and preserving education funding.

``We'd all like to hear the details,'' Hailstone said. ``I don't think he's the one to provide the exact details of the ideas. He's going to be the representative of the needed change.''

While Democrats outside said some Republicans were backing Schwarzenegger just because he could win, despite disagreeing with his philosophy, Republicans inside said they mostly agreed with him.

``I have a feeling a lot of people will vote for him,'' said Al Beattie, an Antelope Valley Union High School District board member. ``I'm in the middle. I'm fiscally conservative but I'm a little more moderate on social issues. Maybe we can accomplish something other than yelling at each other.''

Others said the recall measure against the governor was an important signal to politicians everywhere.

``The frustration we feel as residents is unbelievable,'' said Jeanette Glozer, a Realtor and Palmdale planning commission chairwoman. ``I think the politicians need to know they can be ousted. We're leading the United States by doing this. It's making them accountable.''

Charles F. Bostwick, [phone]

chuck.bostwick(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger works the crowd Monday night at the new Antelope Valley Fairgrounds' Poppy Pavilion.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer