State Board of Equalization member George Runner endorsed Scott Wilk for the Santa Clarita Valley state Assembly seat, he said in an announcement Thursday.

"I have great confidence in Scott," Runner said. "The candidates are all really good, but it was just an easy decision to stay committed to Scott."

Other Republicans who have announced their candidacies for the seat include Patricia McKeon, wife of Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita; and Paul Strickland, school board member for the William S. Hart Union High School District and former staffer for Assemblyman Cameron Smyth.

Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, is being termed out of the Assembly seat.

The June primary will be an open primary. All three Republican who have announced candidacies are from the Santa Clarita Valley.

Also running for the seat is Democrat Edward Headington of Granada Hills.

The candidate filing period opens Feb. 13, but Wilk said Runner's early endorsement was a sign of confidence in his abilities.

"I have experience in business and government," said Wilk, who was re-elected in November to the Santa Clarita Community College District board of trustees. "I'm in a position to start on Day 1 and I won't be a paid intern."

In an e-mail to constituents, Runner, formerly a state senator representing part of the Santa Clarita Valley, said California is at a crossroads and needs politicians "we know and trust."

"Scott's the right person for the Assembly," Runner said. "We've had a long relationship and we've fought for the same things."

"Primaries are always a challenge," Runner said. "You get a lot of good people running, but at the end of the day, my confidence is in Scott."