Orange County labor leaders expressed outrage that a former political aide who was convicted of election fraud now has oversight of the county's office of voter registration.
Chief Operating Officer Mark Denny, who pleaded guilty to an election fraud charge in 1996, was recently given authority over the department tasked with running elections.
Labor leaders are now asking that Denny be reassigned.
The union is currently locked in a series of heated contract negotiations with the county.
Denny, he recalled, was a "sweet, bright kid" who was swept up "in something really bizarre."
Denny declined to comment Tuesday.
The misdemeanor fraud charge stemmed from Denny's involvement in a Republican scheme to manipulate the ballot in a state Assembly race by circulating nominating petitions for a decoy Democratic candidate.
Denny was also barred from participating in campaign work during his probation.
Neal Kelley is the county's registrar of voters.
