ARNOLD PUMPS UP VALLEY CROWD.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

NORTH HILLS - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reverted to campaign mode in a visit to the San Fernando Valley on Thursday, hosting a rally to step up public pressure on legislators to support his budget plan.

About 250 people and a dozen TV news cameras turned out at Galpin Ford, the world's highest-volume Ford dealer, whose owner Bert Boeckmann was a supporter and contributor to Schwarzenegger during the recall campaign.

Already facing Democratic resistance to his plan to solve the state's budget crisis, including a plan to submit a $15 billion bond to voters in March, Schwarzenegger returned to his theme of being the ``people's governor.''

``I need you to call your legislators and say, 'We want to have Arnold's recovery package. We want his recovery plan. We want to have his bond, recovery bond, not your increase in taxes,''' Schwarzenegger said.

``You're to call your legislators.''

Schwarzenegger, who later in the day ordered a freeze in state hiring, took note of his venue in his speech and urged the public to begin buying cars now that he has rolled back the tripled vehicle license fee.

Boeckmann - who gave him the maximum allowable amount, $21,200 for his gubernatorial campaign, and contributed $10,000 to the inaugural committee - said Schwarzenegger's rollback of the car tax is having a positive effect on car sales.

October, when the car tax increase took effect, was his dealership's worst sales month in 15 or 20 years, with sales dropping by 30 percent compared with the same month a year earlier.

``The biggest comment I've had from customers and potential customers is the shock that he handled it so quickly,'' Boeckmann said. ``They all thought, this is going to take months to do.''

In the crowd to watch the new governor were several Valley notables, including former Assemblywoman Paula Boland, retired Rep. Bobbi Fiedler and Valley secession activists Joe Vitti and Bill Powers.

The event was on a relatively small scale for the state's celebrity governor, who packed a Sacramento auditorium full of media Tuesday.

Thursday's masters of ceremonies were KFI-AM (640) radio hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, who later broadcast their show from the Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys to promote Schwarzenegger's attempt to repeal the law giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

On the stage behind Schwarzenegger was a sign that read ``Thank you, Arnold! Promise Made / Promise Kept,'' and standing on stage while he spoke were Boeckmann and his wife, Jane, and about two dozen Galpin employees holding signs thanking him for lowering the car tax. Unlike many of his recent events, no Arnold protesters were visible at the rally.

Schwarzenegger's call for the public to pressure Democratic legislators sparked a counterattack from Bob Mulholland, political adviser to the California Democratic Party.

He said it is hard to call on legislators to support a plan when there is no substance to the plan at this point.

``I don't think most people are taking them (Schwarzenegger's plans) serious yet,'' Mulholland said. ``He's looking a little juvenile at this point. Rallies are not proposals in the legislative process.''

The hiring freeze announced Thursday prohibits all state agencies from making new hires or promotions. The executive order Schwarzenegger signed, the third since his term began Monday, allows a number of exceptions, including for his own staff and the other statewide constitutional officers, as well as employees of the legislative and judicial branches and the higher-education system.

Harrison Sheppard, [phone]

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com

CAR TAX REFUND 

On Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced the vehicle license fee by two-thirds. Those who have already paid their bill should expect a refund by mail starting in January.

Those who have received a bill with the higher amount but not paid it yet can calculate their own reduction and mail in a check for the lower amount.

Follow these steps to determine the lower amount: On your bill, take the number on the line that says ``vehicle license fee'' and multiply it by 0.675. Round that figure to the nearest dollar. Then subtract that from the total bill amount.

Submit the check to the address given on the bill and by the same deadline. Late payments are subject to stiff penalties.

For more information, see the Department of Motor Vehicle Web site www.dmv.ca.gov.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

(color) Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is all smiles Thursday at a rally held at Galpin Ford in North Hills, with Galpin owner Bert Boeckmann, right, and his wife, Jane, applauding.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

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CAR TAX REFUND (see text)