"Stephen is independent and bright," Knapp, 62, said. "He sees the values of serving the public and the possibility of doing the job."

Stephen, 31, has spent the past decade teaching physics or working in the high-tech industry. With no experience in politics, the senior laser engineer is the first to admit he's got much to learn about large-scale government, but views his lack of a political background as a plus.

"I'm a regular guy ... I'm intelligent, but I'm not tainted by politics," said Stephen, who categorizes himself as "a middle-of-the-road Republican."

"I don't think the government should impose heavy taxes and I believe in small government."

"We're going to try to get the word out that I'm a common-sense guy, and that I should be elected for a common-sense government," he said.

Stephen's small campaign committee includes his new wife, Laura Culberson Knapp, and a few friends who are helping to get the word out that he is eyeing the governor's seat.

Laura, who is a Democrat, said running for governor will be a jumping-off point for her husband to know what politics is about.

"I know he has what it takes to take on something like this. He's very keyed into political issues. He could make a career out of this," said Laura, who has known her husband since seventh grade. "That he is running for governor adds excitement to our marriage. And by discussing different issues, we also know the other person better."

Aspirations of a political career began brewing in Stephen's mind only when he considered the alternatives to having Gray Davis remain as governor, he said.

"I realized there wasn't another candidate that I really liked. And then I realized, 'OK, if there's nobody that I like, what am I going to do about it?'" he said.

Dave Knapp backs his son's decision.

"Clearly the state government is in trouble. I'm just glad my son wants to do something about it," Knapp said.

Stephen said injecting fiscal responsibility into the state government will be his top priority and is something that people from both ends of spectrum will agree upon.

As for the estimated $53 to $66 million it will cost the state to hold the historic recall election, Stephen acknowledges that sometimes there are undesired costs associated with democracy, but "that's the way the law's written."

"Democracy is not necessarily a pretty thing. It has its ugly edges. This is pretty ugly," he said. "I think we've all given our thumbs up to the law, and here it is being exercised. The cost is part of that."

While Stephen has decided to throw his name into the gubernatorial race, he continues to work at Coherent Inc. Prior to joining the Silicon Valley company, Stephen taught high-school physics and math in Fiji as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1994 to 1996. He has also worked as a firefighter in Colorado's Boulder County and was captain of a four-person ambulance unit at the University of the South in Tennessee, where he attended college.

Stephen said that over the next several weeks, he plans to map out his stance on all issues facing Californians.

"I would really like to see California have top-notch government and top-notch leadership," he said.

Staff reporter I-chun Che contributed to this article.