CROWD FORMS TO GAPE AT CELEBRITY POL CAMPAIGN EVENT DRAWS MIX OF FANS AND DETRACTORS.

Byline: Amy Raisin  Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Grade-schoolers with multicolor hair mingled with sign-waving senior citizens and suit-clad professionals Friday morning as Arnold Schwarzenegger motored into town, garnering the kind of reception usually reserved for, well, movie stars.

A man carrying a massive cardboard cutout of a gun-toting Schwarzenegger as the Terminator drew cheers from hundreds of supporters who gathered outside Pueblo Building Materials, one of the gubernatorial candidate's campaign stops leading up to Tuesday's election.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, there were a few detractors who - angered by law enforcement's order for protesters to stand farther down the street - hoisted signs that read ``Hands Off Our Daughters'' and ``He will Terminate our resources.''

Recent allegations that Schwarzenegger groped women as early as the 1970s and sympathized with Nazi ideologies troubled some in the crowd, but many said they plan to focus on the Republican's present behavior and leave the past alone.

``It's total mudslinging,'' said Josy Block of Valencia, who with her son waved ``Arnold'' signs. ``If there were incidents that happened in the past, it's the past. He has the concerns of Californians in mind and that's what matters to me.''

While her views were unpopular with those standing near her, 72-year-old Arlene Kapella provided a blunt explanation for her presence at the event.

``I really want to see a phony politician up close,'' said the Valencia resident. ``California is just star-struck. Sure, he's a very popular, dynamic person, except for all the things with the women and the Nazis.''

What mattered to the handful of Schwarzenegger detractors, however, came to a head about 30 minutes before the candidate's bus arrived. By 11 a.m. supporters were lining both sides of the street when Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies instructed the protesters to move to the end of the line, away from the heart of the crowd.

``It is fair and it's for your own safety,'' Sgt. Jim Anderson told the small group of protesters as he motioned them toward a coned-off section. ``They can still say what they want, but we need to keep them in one area in case some trouble starts so we can (protect) them.''

As deputies moved the protesters down the street, some Schwarzenegger supporters cheered. While the group reluctantly moved down, 62-year-old Larry Kanner, a Santa Clarita resident and outspoken Democrat, questioned who it is the sheriff's deputies work for.

``I see you're already taking orders from Schwarzenegger, huh?'' Kanner said in the direction of deputies.

Teresa Savaikie, who held a sign assailing Schwarzenegger for the groping allegations, said she felt bullied despite her First Amendment right to free speech.

``I pay my taxes that help pay these (deputies') salaries,'' Savaikie said. ``They're trying to put us where our voices can't be heard.''

Some of the loudest voices came from the more than 30 fourth-graders from Helmers Elementary in Valencia, who turned in parental permission slips before heading to the campaign stop.

``They're studying California history and (their regular teacher) decided to tie this in with learning about the government,'' said Debbie Schultz, a substitute teacher who, with 11 parent volunteers, accompanied the children. ``They're learning how the whole process works.''

Schultz said the students were cheering for Schwarzenegger, but cautioned that the children know very little about the candidate's policies or his past, other than his movie persona.

``There's a lot of curiosity, yes. But most of them aren't aware of anything other than he's a movie star,'' she said.

Amy Raisin, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Supporters await Schwarzenegger's arrival at Friday's event.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer