San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson picked up the endorsement in his 15th Assembly District race of a familiar name to California residents who are stridently against new taxes.

Ted Costa, CEO of the government watchdog group People's Advocate, called Wilson, a Republican, a committed steward of public monies in Wilson's role as San Ramon mayor.

"Mayor Wilson has an excellent track record for responsible government - and he will ensure California's taxpayers dollars are spent wisely," Costa said in a statement from Wilson's campaign.

Costa was involved in the tax reform initiative Proposition 13 in 1978, and also played a key role in the recall of then-Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, in 2003.

Wilson is battling Democrat and school board member Joan Buchanan in the 15th district in one of the most closely watched races in California this fall.

With registration in the district favoring Democrats by about 1 percentage point, many expect the race to be a target of Democrats who want to take the seat currently held by Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-Dublin), who is termed out.

The district stretches across the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta and encompasses suburban cities in Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties.