NORTHERN L.A. COUNTY : Candidate Questions Rival’s Description

Independent congressional candidate Rick Pamplin on Thursday challenged his Republican opponent’s self-description as a “small business owner” on the November ballot, but state officials said the deadline had passed for such complaints.

Pamplin called on GOP nominee Howard P. (Buck) McKeon to “come clean with the voters and explain” that he co-owns 50 retail clothing stores and is board chairman of Valencia National Bank.

“He is a banker and a corporate executive--period,” Pamplin said. “Mr. McKeon’s chain of retail stores would not be classified as a ‘small business.’ ”

Pamplin, a Palmdale screenwriter and Ross Perot supporter, is running against McKeon and Democrat James Gilmartin, a Santa Clarita attorney, in the 25th Congressional District, which covers the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys and part of the northern San Fernando Valley. McKeon is widely regarded as the front - runner in the heavily Republican district.

Pamplin asked Secretary of State March Fong Eu to investigate a “possibly misleading ballot designation.” But a Eu spokeswoman said the deadline for challenging designations was last month.

McKeon campaign manager Armando Azarloza said McKeon has never tried to conceal his co-ownership of the Howard & Phil’s Western Wear stores or bank chairmanship and that he is proud of his business successes.

McKeon’s shares in Howard & Phil’s, which he owns with four brothers, are worth about $2 million. He earned $295,000 in salary from the chain last year.