TALK OF THE TOWN L.A. CROWD SPECULATES ON ARNOLD AS GOVERNOR.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro and Troy Anderson Staff Writers

SANTA MONICA - Arnold Schwarzenegger's Schatzi on Main restaurant was abuzz Thursday with lunchtime diners hoping to glimpse the man just about everyone, everywhere, was talking about - and, suddenly, he was there.

Gasps and a brief applause broke out as the tanned, body-builder-turned-actor-turned-politician and his entourage strode into the Santa Monica eatery and settled in for lunch with friends.

German airline workers Marcus Ayen and Timo Benz, on a one-day layover in Los Angeles, had headed to Schatzi for a glimpse of Arnold. They were beaming over at their brief brush with fame and thoughts of the actor's new line of work.

``It would fit,'' said Ayen, saying the land of movie-making could have a star as its governor.

``It's nothing special here,'' said Benz. ``In the end, it doesn't matter who is the political leader.''

Schwarzenegger's candidacy was also the talk of diners at The Original Pantry, the landmark downtown steakhouse owned by the actor's political ally, former Mayor Richard Riordan.

``If Schwarzenegger had not run, Riordan probably would have been my choice. But now that Schwarzenegger is in the race, I'm looking forward to his governorship,'' said Alex Villa, 37, of Rancho Cucamonga.

Glendale resident Michael Han said he's ready to give the ``Terminator'' star a try. ``Personally, Schwarzenegger hasn't been corrupted by politics yet, so why not give him a shot?''

But diner Michael Morgan said Schwarzenegger's decision to run only hones California's flaky image on the national stage.

``I think all it does it just reinforce everybody's view in the rest of the country that we are a land of fruits and nuts.''

But at Schatzi, which Schwarzenegger founded in 1991 and now leases to restaurateur Charly Temmel, visual effects pros Kent Lidke and Greg Teegarden debated the former body-builder's qualifications.

``He says he's going to go up there and clean house - what does that mean? And can he?'' said Teegarden, a Studio City resident who signed the recall petition but has doubts about the Terminator running the state.

Lidke, who considers himself a Libertarian though he's currently registered as Republican, said the ``Saturday Night Live'' writers must be ``tripping over themselves'' to get back from the summer hiatus.

``It's entertainment,'' he said. ``I can't say it's good government.''

Tourists Maria Pletneva and Channing Manhatan made just one stop after their plane arrived - to Randy's Donuts - before heading to Schatzi.

``We thought maybe he'll stop by because he just announced,'' said Pletneva, a medical student at Johns Hopkins University.

``I think California wants a lot of change, and wants it fast,'' said Manhatan, a federal patent examiner in Washington, D.C., and registered Republican, who thinks Schwarzenegger will win the governor's race.

``Hopefully, he can give it to California,'' said Pletneva.

London visitor Patrick Doyle doubts he'd agree with Schwarzenegger's politics, but said Brits can't help but appreciate the immigrant-to-riches tale of the Hollywood icon.

``It's part of a great American tradition,'' he said.

Doyle's son, 12-year-old Patrick, saw no problem with the action hero's new interests. ``It's just another career someone has. An actor is a career, a plumber (is a career). They should both have the political right,'' he said.

Besides, he added, ``It'd be quite cool.''

Along with the tourists and local workers, Schatzi attracted those who have become acquainted with Schwarzenegger during his L.A. years.

Screenwriter/director Peter Gathings Bunche, who regularly stops in at Schatzi, said - repeatedly - how much he likes Schwarzenegger and the work he's done for youths.

Nevertheless he said he has concerns about the race.

``Arnold, albeit a megastar, is used to taking directions. I'm more concerned about his (ability as) producer, editor, director, than his ability to star as governor of California,'' said Gathings Bunche, who believes Schwarzenegger will be used to get out the votes for Republicans in the 2004 presidential election.

``The Republican Party is expecting Arnold to average more assists than Gary Payton and Kobe (Bryant),'' he said. ``I think he would better serve the public as an affluent entrepreneur activist than as an elected official.''

But Anthony van Sager, an Austrian native who said Schwarzenegger supported him once he came to Los Angeles, had nothing but praise for the man he plans to vote for in the race for governor.

``I think it's an excellent idea,'' said the bodyguard and martial arts expert.

``I think people are quick at misconceptions, putting people in different categories. Oh, it's stupid muscleman. That is not the case,'' van Sager said.

``He may not be the ordinary politician but he's very smart. More like our president - he's maybe not very smart, but he loves his country, he assembles people around him.''

Lisa Mascaro, [phone]

lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

At Schatzi, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Santa Monica restaurant, martial artist and native Austrian Anthony von Sager was happy to discuss a fellow Austrian's run for state governor.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer