RICHMAN ON CRUISE CONTROL.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Granada Hills, is expected to easily win re-election in April to the state Legislature.

Richman, a physician who currently represents parts of the San Fernando Valley, Stevenson Ranch and Castaic, is running unopposed in March's primary for the Republican nomination for the 38th District.

Richman will face two unknown newcomers in the general election. Democrat Paula L. Calderon, a health care manager who lives in Saugus, and Libertarian Karl Lembke, a water-quality inspector from Tujunga, are both running unopposed for their parties' nominations.

As part of the redistricting of the state, which will take effect in November, the boundaries of the 38th District will be changed to include the entire Santa Clarita Valley, separating it from the Antelope Valley and areas further north.

Richman, a member of the higher education, budget, health and insurance Assembly committees, has been on a fact-finding mission in Santa Clarita for the last several months.

``I've been working hard to get to know the people and the issues in Santa Clarita,'' Richman said. ``Some issues are the same, some are different.''

The redistricting plan was crafted to keep the ratio of Republican-to- Democratic legislators roughly constant by fashioning districts that favor one party over the other. Most of the registered voters in the 38th District are Republican.

Concerns about growth and school overcrowding top Richman's agenda, along with a desire to promote economic development and tourism in Santa Clarita, the assemblyman said.

Richman met this week with Councilman Bob Kellar and members of the city staff to discuss a wide-range of issues facing Santa Clarita.

``Keith Richman is one of the most impressive legislators I've had the privilege of working with,'' Kellar said. ``He's going to do a remarkable job for this community.''

Richman first advised city officials about ways to cope with the state's now-dormant energy crisis, winning praise from Stacy Miller, the city's intergovernmental affairs officer.

``He's innovative and is always looking for ways to solve problems and move on to the next one,'' Miller said.

Richman has also won the backing of Santa Clarita's business community, according to Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce President Rick Winsman.

``He's making a tremendous effort to get the lay of the land out here,'' Winsman said.

Richman is also a rising star in the Republican leadership in the Assembly. On statewide issues, he has proposed legislation that would provide health care coverage for California's 7 million uninsured residents and dedicate 5 percent of the state's budget for infrastructure creation and renewal.

Both Calderon and Lembke acknowledge Richman is a formidable opponent who will be difficult to defeat.

``I'm a fighting a losing battle,'' Calderon said, of her race against Richman. ``I have nothing to lose.''

Calderon, who works at Olive View Medical Center in Sylmar, said she planned to focus on her plans for fixing the state education system during the campaign.

``Teachers need to be supported and school districts need to be held accountable for the way they spend bond money,'' Calderon said.

Lembke, who posts articles on a Web site about his political views, pledged to reform the state's deregulation of the electrical industry and revamp the state's jury duty system.