ASSEMBLY RACE HEATS UP CANDIDATES ALREADY LINED UP FOR 36TH DISTRICT.

PALMDALE - The election is still more than a year away, but the field for the coming 36th Assembly District race is beginning to fill up: two Republicans and one Democrat have declared their candidacies, and two other Republicans are leaning toward running.

On the Republican side, Palmdale Mayor Pro Tem Mike Dispenza and Ollie McCaulley, a Palmdale resident and chairman of the California Minority GOP Coalition, have officially declared their candidacies for the seat now held by Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster.

On the Democratic side, Lancaster businessman Byron M. Bostic has announced his plans to run.

Runner cannot run in the November 2002 election because of the state's term-limit laws.

Among those pondering joining the race are Runner's wife, Sharon, and Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford.

``I think I can make a difference up there for this valley,'' said Dispenza, who runs an insurance office in Palmdale. ``Every big thing we've wanted we don't get - a college, a veterans home, money for our schools.''

McCaulley, director of housing and government relations for the Community Partnership Development Corp., a nonprofit organization, described his political philosophy as being similar to George Runner's.

``In order not to lose momentum, it is imperative that someone pick up the torch and move forward to sustain the progress which has already been made,'' McCaulley said in a statement announcing his candidacy. ``This is no time for on-the-job training or to entrust a political novice who does not have the contacts or experience in Sacramento to succeed.''

McCaulley advocates bringing more power plants, placing a cap on energy charges, improving pay for teachers and adding more classrooms.

Bostic, a Lancaster resident since 1990 and a member of the Democratic Club of the High Desert, says the Antelope Valley has not been served as well as it should have been by its Republican representatives in Sacramento.

Bostic said the Republicans have ultraconservative philosophies and do not cooperate with Sacramento's Democratic majorities or with Gov. Gray Davis, costing the district vital projects.

Sharon Runner said she will make a final decision about whether to run within a few days. Runner said her list of supporters includes state Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale.

``People have been encouraging me to run for his (her husband's) seat,'' Runner said. ``I know the process and I know the people up here.''

Runner is a board member of the Antelope Valley Fair and has served on a number of boards of directors in the past, including the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and the United Way.

Also expressing an interest in running is Ledford. He is running for a fifth term as Palmdale's mayor, a term that he said will be his last.

Ledford said he will leave municipal government politics after this term and his ``exit strategy'' includes looking at a possible run for the Assembly seat.