Beyond fund raising: Tech execs entering the race; After backing candidates in last year's elections, they become office seekers themselves.

A growing number of technology executives are crossing the line between business and politics, giving in to the lure of public office and the desire, to put New Economy principles to work in the statehouse and Congress.

There has been no flood of candidates. Many executives are still put off by the challenges of fund raising, relentless campaigning and the potential for frustration over the slow pace of government. The downturn in the economy has cut into the fortunes of some would-be candidates who no longer think they have the financial wherewithal to risk a run for office.

But technology executives, who as a whole once reviled politics, are finding that government is taking an increasing interest in their industry -- an interest many fear will develop into regulation. This fear led a number of executives to donate to last year's presidential election. Now some of them are beginning to run for office themselves.

"In the past, high-tech basically minded its business, and government stayed out and didn't have an impact one way or another," says Steve Kirsch, chairman and CEO of Propel Corp. and a major donor to Al Gore's presidential race last year. "When that changed and there was more overlap into technology, there was bound to be more interest."

At the top of the high-tech ticket is Democrat Steve Westly, an early eBay executive now running for state controller, a position that many, including Gov. Gray Davis, have used as a springboard to even higher office.

The tech ticket also includes Dave Pine, another Democrat, who is running for the 19th District Assembly seat north of Palo Alto, being vacated by longtime legislator Lou Papan. Mr. Pine is on leave from his job as vice president and general counsel for Handspring Inc., a maker of personal digital assistants.

Vince Hall, a former systems analyst and programmer for General Dynamics, is running for the Democratic nomination for the 78th Assembly District in San Diego. Mr. Hall also was an aide to Mr. Davis, first when he was controller and then for the first two years of his term as governor. Mr. Hall is known in Silicon Valley political circles as the creator of database software aimed at tracking potential voters. Former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer and current Mayor Ron Gonzales were early adopters of the software.