Pringle, Umberg Clash Over Ballot Titles

Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) accused his Democratic opponent Tuesday of misleading voters because he plans to be identified on the ballot as an assistant U.S. attorney, even though he quit that job in January.

However, Democratic candidate Tom Umberg said that California Secretary of State March Fong Eu’s office has cleared his designation and called it standard practice for candidates who have resigned a position to run for office.

In a letter to Umberg, Pringle demanded that the designation that appears on the ballot next to his opponent’s name be changed to “lawyer or attorney.” Umberg is employed by a county law firm.

“If Umberg fails to make this change by the close of business Aug. 15--the legal deadline--then it will be clear that he intends to mislead the people of the 72nd Assembly District,” Pringle said. “Such an act will say a lot about my opponent.”

Umberg’s campaign said, however, that Eu’s office has ruled that the ballot designation is proper because federal law required Umberg to resign from his job before he could file for office.

Melissa Warren, spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office, said: “Our policy has been that if you leave a position to run for office, you may use the title of the position you left.”

Umberg also took the opportunity to attack Pringle, saying his foe is only seeking publicity and knows that the title is proper.

“Pringle should be honest with the voters--quit masquerading as a state assemblyman and worry about his own ballot designation,” Umberg said in a written statement. “With a record of ineffectiveness like his, I don’t know how he can actually call himself a member of the state Legislature.”