Actress Alonso believes in Donnelly despite shakeup

Actress Maria Conchita Alonso, who will be headlining gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly’s GOP convention party Saturday night, said she wants to discuss recent upheaval in his campaign with him but still believes the state Assemblyman would make a fine governor.

Alonso said she had grown concerned by reports of a campaign staff shakeup, reports of Donnelly using a gun in violation of his probation at a campaign event and a post he placed on Twitter that likened President Obama’s gun policies to those espoused by dictators such as Hitler.

Alonso said in a phone interview that she would see the San Bernardino County lawmaker Saturday. “All these things – it’s important to talk in person and to see everything…. I still do believe he will be a good candidate. He can make the state of California better, I do believe.”

Alonso, who starred in movies with the likes of Robin Williams and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said she knew when she made a video earlier this year supporting Donnelly’s gubernatorial bid that they did not agree on some issues. But she said she believes Donnelly listens to her point of view.

“Tim is not really a politician. Tim is a patriot who loves his country and wants to make it better,” she said, adding that she and he disagree on the fate of the millions of people who are in this country illegally and on gun control.

“But he listens to me, and that’s what we need. We need people to listen who are not on the same page 100%,” she said.

Alonso, who is scheduled to speak and possibly sing at Donnelly’s 2014 Liberty Extravaganza party Saturday night, said she planned to focus her remarks on the upheaval in Venezuela, where she was raised.

“Since the moment Tim called, he never asked me to talk about the campaign at all. He knows at this moment I am 100% concerned and my mind, heart and soul are dedicated to ... Venezuela,” she said.

Twitter: @LATSeema

seema.mehta@latimes.com