Camarillo businessman Jeff Gorell, who announced his intent to run for the 37th Assembly District in 2010 even while the 2008 campaign was underway, will kick off his fundraising with a holiday party in Lake Sherwood on Dec. 4.

The Republican hopeful may benefit from the fact that state Democrats made a run against incumbent Audra Strickland (who will be termed out in 2010) this fall. Although Strickland won with relative comfort (about 6 percentage points), the fact that Democrats put money into the contest makes it more likely that Republicans will start funding Gorell early.