2nd Democrat Joins Race for Umberg’s Seat : Politics: Santa Ana chamber President Metzler’s entry in party primary, encouraged by incumbent, irks rival Moreno.

With the unofficial backing of the man he hopes to succeed, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce President Mike Metzler on Tuesday joined the June 7 primary race for the 69th Assembly District seat now occupied by Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove).

Umberg’s encouragement of Metzler to run in the Democratic primary was criticized by another Democrat in the race, Santa Ana Councilman Ted R. Moreno, who said that Umberg had pledged to stay neutral until all the candidates had filed for the race.

Metzler and Moreno are the only Democrats who have declared their candidacies and paid filing fees, although other Democrats have expressed their intent to run. They include Zeke Hernandez, a Santa Ana resident and Latino political activist, and Enriqueta L. Ramos, a Rancho Santiago Community College District board member.

Metzler, 47, of Santa Ana enters what is looming as an intraparty clash over the 69th Assembly District seat, the only Orange County legislative office now held by a Democrat and one which has been targeted by Republicans. Umberg is stepping down to run for state attorney general.

Richard O’Neill, a former Democratic Party chairman, said Metzler’s business community connections make him the candidate most likely to raise the kind of money necessary to win the race against a Republican in the November general election.

“Who can raise the money to win the primary with the momentum to win in November? And who can get support from Democrats outside the district?” O’Neill said. “I think (Metzler) would be the strongest candidate to hold that seat.”

Metzler said that while Umberg first suggested he run, the assemblyman’s support was not the deciding factor. Metzler said his work with the Chamber of Commerce has given him an appreciation of the need to help create jobs and improve the local economy.

“I’m no politician,” Metzler said. “This is the first time I have ever run for office.”

Latinos make up two-thirds of the population in the central Orange County district--which includes parts of Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Anaheim--but only one-fourth of the registered voters. In the 1992 presidential election, Latino-surnamed voters cast only about one-fifth of all votes in the district.

Still, it is a district that Latino political activists hope to capture.

Moreno, 26, said he does not believe Latinos are automatically entitled to the seat. However, he said he is disappointed that Umberg apparently is backing Metzler, since he had once heard Umberg express the hope that the seat eventually would be filled by a Latino.

“I am still confident Tom is going to stay neutral in this,” Moreno said. “If he’s going back on his word, he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do.”

Umberg could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

George Urch, Umberg’s chief of staff, said that while the assemblyman had encouraged Metzler to run, Umberg would wait for the candidate filing deadline to pass before he “gets in and plays an active role” in the race.

“Tom’s No. 1 goal is to make sure that that seat remains Democratic,” Urch said. “Our goal is to elect the best candidate that’s going to do the best job for the district regardless of race, creed, ethnicity or religion.”