Foes Raise Questions About Pringle Aide : Politics: Official was on state payroll on day he urged a candidate not to run. He denies any misconduct.

In what foes are calling a violation of state law, Assembly GOP Leader Curt Pringle’s chief of staff was working on the state payroll the day he attempted to convince a first-time Republican candidate that he should stay out of an Orange County legislative race.

Assembly payroll records obtained by The Times show that Jeff Flint, Pringle’s longtime chief of staff, was working for the assemblyman--and state government--when he asked Jacob “Jim” Rems of Irvine not to challenge the incumbent Republican in the upcoming March primary showdown for the 70th Assembly District seat.

Flint has insisted that he did not voice any threats, but does not deny that he talked with Rems on Nov. 29 about Republican Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer’s qualifications to hold the Newport Beach-based seat. Flint said he did that in the hopes of persuading Rems to abort a challenge against the incumbent.

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State law prohibits legislative staffers and other public employees from participating in campaign-related political activity during the workday while collecting a paycheck from taxpayers. Violators face civil penalties.

State employees routinely take vacations while working on campaigns or performing other political functions apart from their policy duties for legislators.

Flint did not return repeated phone calls to his home and office Friday, but Pringle said his chief of staff talked with Rems after his workday was over and is innocent of any violation. Rems has said that he had his conversation with Flint sometime after 4 p.m.

Pringle also said that he is scrupulous about insisting that his employees take vacation time whenever they are performing political or campaign work. He also suggested that the flap over Flint has been blown out of proportion by political enemies seeking to injure him as he heads toward a showdown with Speaker Brian Setencich, a Republican freshman from Fresno, over the Assembly leadership next month.

But Pringle’s foes were quick to criticize the legislator and Flint, suggesting the appearance of a bald violation of the law.

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Flint took a leave of absence without pay from Pringle’s office beginning in August to help run the successful recall effort against former Assembly Speaker Doris Allen, the Cypress Republican who was ousted from office Nov. 28.

But records show he returned to his job with Pringle on Nov. 29, and the same day he spoke with Rems over a cellular phone as the prospective Assembly candidate attempted to pull nomination papers at the Orange County registrar of voters office.

Times staff writer Len Hall contributed to this story.