Preparations are being made for homecoming events for Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, R-Camarillo, who is scheduled to return at the end of the month from a year-long deployment with the Navy in Afghanistan.

The first, say members of his office staff and political team, is envisioned as a nonpolitical, community-based event that will take place April 4 at California Lutheran University's Gilbert Sports and Athletic Center Arena in Thousand Oaks. Admission is free, but organizers are asking for RSVPs at WelcomeHomeJeffGorell.org.

But a second event, to take place on an undetermined date later in April, will be a fundraiser in Sacramento that will require a campaign contribution to attend. That explains the invitation to a Gorell campaign fundraiser scheduled for this evening in Sacramento that has an admission price tag of $1,000 to $3,900. The invitation promises that those who give the larger amount, the maximum allowed under state contribution limits, will be admitted free to the Sacramento homecoming. "Max out contributions will receive complimentary admission to Jeff Gorell's homecoming event in April," the invitation reads.

The timing of Gorell's return is such that he will find himself in campaign mode almost as soon as he is released from active military duty. While he was on leave from his political/civilian job for most of 2011, his campaign fundraisers were not. His campaign committee raised $163,000 last year. Tonight's event and the April homecoming fundraiser will add to that total as Gorell prepares to launch his 2012 re-election campaign in the new 44th Assembly District.