San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson said he'll take another shot at the 15th Assembly District seat in 2010, adding that he was convinced during the fall campaign against Assemblywoman-elect Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) that she won't be a good representative for the district.

Wilson, a Republican, said the message he hears from constituents about tough economic times isn't being heard in Sacramento.

"I've never run against anyone, but I've always run to make a difference," Wilson said. "It's important for someone to represent the district who understands the economy, as in my background."

Wilson lost the 15th Assembly District race to Buchanan on Nov. 4 by a 52.1 percent to 47.9 percent margin, and registration numbers in the largely suburban and rural district have shifted toward the Democrats in recent years.

But he said that's not a concern because fixing the economy is a nonpartisan issue.

"No one's spoke in Sacramento about sunsetting programs," he said, referring to the current special session on this fiscal year's budget deficit. "No one has talked about the problem of spending more than we have."

Wilson said he'll also run for re-election as San Ramon's mayor next year, but he believes that voters will understand if he does so with an intention to take another shot at an Assembly seat.

If Wilson runs in 2010, he may be able to do with a clearer shot to the party's nomination than he had earlier this year.

Robert Rao, a former small business owner from Livermore who lost the GOP primary in the 15th to Wilson by less than 300 votes, said he's not sure the facts of the race in 2010 would be compelling enough for him to run.

"I will run for political office again if I can win, and that would be based on if the party has decent registration and I have the support," Rao said.

He guessed that Democrats could have a 7-percentage point gap over Republicans in registration in the 15th by 2010, a gap that may be too big to overcome, he said.

As well, the GOP would have to clear the field for one candidate to avoid a reprise of 2008, Rao said.

"We spent $2 million in the primary, and it was very costly for that to happen," Rao said, explaining that he felt such a nasty primary damaged the Republican ticket for the general election.

If Rao or any other Republican decides to run in 2010, Wilson said, he's not fazed by it.

"This is America," he said. "As mayor, I want what's best for my constituents, period."