Although Democrat Ferial Masry's numbers crept up from 2004, Republican incumbent Audra Strickland beat her again to retain her 37th District Assembly seat.

Strickland took 56.4 percent of the votes in the district which serves Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Ojai and parts of Los Angeles.

"I'm very honored that I'm going to be able to serve the district again," Strickland said. "I think the people of the community had the chance to look at where I stood on the issues and my record in Sacramento, and I share the majority of the beliefs of the people in the community."

Masry captured 43.6 percent of the votes, after taking 41.1 percent in 2004. The L.A. Unified School District history teacher and former small business owner had hoped to become the first Saudi American elected to U.S. office. She said her background gave her a unique perspective.

"I'm very, very proud, taking a small race and making it into a political phenomenon, nationally, internationally and locally," Masry said. "Getting this amount of votes against an incumbent- with enough money and support, I could have won that; I have no doubt in my mind.

"I'd like to say, okay, I congratulate my opponent, but I think our district deserves better than what we have," she said.

Strickland said several issues contributed to her victory.

"Obviously my strong support for public safety, and my desire to keep our schools safe and keep our streets safe is one," Strickland said.

Masry had campaigned to limit prison sentences to nonviolent criminals, while Strickland strongly disagreed.

"The people of California have spoken, and public safety is a top priority," Strickland said at a recent debate. "There is no dollar amount you can affix on a human life, on the safety of a child. We need to build more prisons-- it's a matter of planning."

Strickland also counts her illegal immigration policies as a major contributor to the win. As cochair of the task force on illegal immigration, Strickland supports the construction of the wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I think the people of California are very, very frustrated with the effort of Sacramento to give illegal immigrants driver's licenses, to give illegal immigrants college tuition and to give illegal immigrants welfare benefits," Strickland said. "These are all things I oppose and fight against in Sacramento."

Strickland said her work with the task force will go on. The panel will continue to hold local hearings, Strickland said, and look at new legislation. Strickland opposed Proposi

tion 89, a plan for campaign finance reform, and Proposition 87, a tax on oil companies, while Masry supported them.

Both measures failed.

Strickland, a former junior high school teacher, replaced her husband, Tony, as the 37th District Assembly member two years ago. Tony Strickland, also a Republican, tallied 40 percent of the vote for state controller in this election, but fell to Democrat John Chiang's 50.9 percent.