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Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai, has entered Loma Linda University Medical Center in California for treatment of an undisclosed condition, Wagoner's office announced Friday.

Wagoner expects to be out of Alaska for the next eight weeks.

"My doctor has recommended I undergo treatments for a medical condition that recently came to light," Wagoner said. "The good news is he said he expects a full recovery in very short order because we caught it so early."

Wagoner, along with his wife, Dorothy, traveled to Loma Linda on Sunday and he was to begin treatments Monday. The press release said he was expected to return home the first week in January, just prior to leaving for the regular session in Juneau, which begins Jan. 20.

Wagoner's daughter and son-in-law live near Loma Linda, and Wagoner said he was looking forward to "rigorous workouts" with his son-in-law, a pro at one of the area's golf courses.

"My golf game has been off the last couple of summers because of the back-to-back special sessions," Wagoner said. "I'm actually looking forward to swinging the club again."

Mary Jackson, Wagoner's chief of staff, said she was not authorized to discuss Wagoner's condition, but said there would likely be a follow-up announcement. She did say she fully expects Wagoner to recover and that her boss was "a typical Alaska guy" who wasn't going to let his condition slow him down.

"Plus, I'm not worried because Dorothy is not worried. She's my gauge," Jackson said.

Wagoner was recently re-elected to the state Senate from District Q.

Hal Spence can be reached at hspence@ptialaska.net.