Actor goes to work for California House candidate

Astin is serving as campaign manager for entertainment industry executive Daniel H. Adler, who is one of 16 candidates in a special election next week in the coastal 36th Congressional District along the western edge of Los Angeles County..

Adler is waging an outsider's campaign against better-known and better-funded rivals, including Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn and California Secretary of State Deborah Bowen.

Astin says in a statement Monday that his longtime friend is the straight-talking alternative to career politicians.