Financial planner and former congressional candidate, Matt Kokkonen, formally entered the 2010 race to replace outgoing 33rd District Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee.

The 39-year resident of San Luis Obispo filed papers Wednesday, but Kokkonen has long been an assumed Republican candidate for the position.

He officially joins part of a field that thus far includes three other Republicans: Santa Maria Planning Commissioner Etta Waterfield, longtime San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian and Paso Robles City Councilman Fred Strong.

Santa Maria City Councilman Marty Mariscal recently dropped out of the race citing the ongoing economic recession and its impact on his insurance business and family.

Santa Maria City Councilwoman Hilda Zacarias is the lone Democrat seeking the seat now that Lompoc resident Robert Cuthbert and Santa Maria-based attorney Jon-Erik Storm have bowed out.

Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals, a Democrat, has yet to officially enter the race despite showing public interest in running.

The state's 33rd Assembly District consists of the western half of northern Santa Barbara County, including Santa Maria, Lompoc and Guadalupe, and all of San Luis Obispo County.

Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, who holds the office now, will be forced out in 2010 by term limits.

Kokkonen is a self-proclaimed "political activist," who has organized Tea Party and Town Hall meetings on the issue of health care.

He is focused on fixing the state budget mayhem and addressing the over-regulation and high taxation of small businesses, according to a statement released Saturday.

"Just as families must live within their means, the state government cannot spend more than it takes in," Kokkonen said.

Other issues include border protection and the creation of a guest worker program, according to his released statement.

Kokkonen emigrated from Finland at the age of 16, and due to his background "believes that the capitalist system which rewards private enterprise, innovation and personal responsibility is what made America great and has secured its freedoms."

The foreign-born candidate lost the 2008 race against incumbent Congresswoman Lois Capps for the 23rd District.

The party primary is scheduled for June 2010, with the general election in November 2010.