Throughout 2007, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had no more loyal or hard-working supporter in California than former Assemblyman Tony Strickland of Moorpark.

Strickland organized fundraisers, recruited volunteers, served as co-chair of the Romney California campaign, even flew to the East Coast to participate in a high-profile phone-bank operation to raise money for Romney.

Now Romney is about to return the favor. He is scheduled to headline a June 17 fundraiser for Strickland's state Senate campaign in Westlake Village. Strickland, who has already raised more than $1 million, told me last week he expects to take in $200,000 from the event.