Tom Umberg

Thomas John Umberg (born September 25 1955) is a U.S. politician, who was a Democrat in the California State Assembly, representing the 69th District.

Military service and family

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Umberg graduated with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1977. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, then promoted to Captain. Umberg served with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea and with NATO forces in Italy during his time in the army. Umberg also served as a paratrooper with the US Army Special Operations Command, US Army Special Warfare Center and the XVIIIth Airborne Corp. Umberg completed the Harvard University, Kennedy School of Public Policy, Program for Senior Executives in National Security. He was also awarded a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. Umberg remained in the U.S. Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Colonel. His last assignment in the Reserve was as a prosecutor of terrorist suspects, and received a Joint Service Commendation medal for his contribution in Guantanamo. Umberg has a top secret security clearance that allowed him access to criminal files on suspected Taliban members. Umberg's other military decorations include: The Meritorious Service Medal (2d award), The US Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award, The Army Commendation Medal (2d award), The Army Achievement Medal

Early career

After receiving his Juris Doctor degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1980, he was appointed an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Orange County. He had a 100% conviction rate prosecuting drug dealers, gang members, white collar criminals, and civil rights cases. In addition, he also served as a military prosecutor during between 1980 and 1985.

Elected office

First stint in Assembly

Umberg was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1990, after defeating Curt Pringle. Umberg was re-elected in 1992. While in the Assembly he served as Chairman of the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. Instead of seeking a third term in 1994, Umberg ran for Attorney General of California but lost to Republican Dan Lungren.

Clinton Administration

Umberg then joined the law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP in 1995 as a senior partner. He was the Managing Partner of Morrison & Foerster's Orange County Office from 2003 until 2005. In addition, he also took a position as an adjunct professor of law at Southwestern University School of Law. During the 1996 presidential election, he served as the chairman of the Clinton re-election campaign in California. Clinton appointed Umberg as the Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in 1997, Umberg was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.

econd stint in Assembly

In 2000, Umberg left the Clinton administration and returned to California. In 2002, he lost the Democratic Party nomination for State Insurance Commissioner to John Garamendi. In 2004, Umberg won election to the Assembly to represent the 69th District, which includes the Orange County cities of Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Garden Grove. During his third term, Umberg Chaired the Elections and Redistriciting Committee. While in the legislature, Umberg authored over 60 measures which became law. These laws include measures dealing with hate crimes, white collor crime, campaign finance reform, high-speed rail transport and school meal programs.

enate campaign

Umberg sought the seat of retiring State Senator Joe Dunn (D) in the 2006 elections. Orange County Supervisor and former Assemblyman Lou Correa jumped in the race in January 2006 despite pressure from the local Democratic party for him to stay out (although with pressure from the state Democratic party for him to jump in), stating that he was running in part because of the allegations about Umberg's residency. Aside from the negative articles, Umberg also received criticism that he voted to legalize gay marriage. [Quach, Hahn Kim. [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_967489.php "34th Senate race likely to get heated, expensive."] "The Orange County Register". January 26 2006. Local 1.] Umberg attempted to get Correa off the ballot because Correa submitted more than the number of signatures required to qualify for the ballot, but ultimately failed. [Joseph, Brian. [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1075794.php "Judge upholds Correa's right to remain in Senate primary."] "The Orange County Register". March 29 2006. Local 6.] Umberg also claimed that an alliance between Correa and State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata to funnel funds to Correa's campaign was illegal. [Pasco, Jean. "Umberg Says Illegal Alliance Is Hurting His Senate Campaign." "Los Angeles Times". May 9 2006. Page B4.] Umberg was defeated by Correa by a 60% to 40% margin.

upervisorial campaign

After Correa won the general election for the Senate by a 1% margin, Umberg entered the race to replace Correa on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the 1st District. 52% of 1st Supervisorial District voters are also voters in the 69th Assembly District, formerly represented by Umberg. 73% of 1st Supervisorial District voters are also 34th Senate District voters. On 6 February 2007, Umberg received 21.4%, coming in third. [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-viet10feb10,0,1249829,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines Vietnamese voters at epicenter of O.C. political earthquake - Los Angeles Times ] ]

Electoral history

*2007 Orange County Board of Supervisors, 1st District
**Janet Nguyen (R), 10,919 - 24.1%
**Trung Nguyen (R), 10,912 - 24.1%
**Tom Umberg (D), 9,725 - 21.4%
**Carlos Bustamante (R), 7,460 - 16.5%
*2006 Democratic Primary Election for State Senate, 34th District
**Lou Correa (D), 17,409 - 59.8%
**Tom Umberg (D), 11,731 - 40.2%
*2004 General Election for State Assembly, 69th District
**Tom Umberg (D), 38,516 - 61.4%
**Otto Bade (R), 19,811 - 31.5%
**George Reis (L), 4,470 - 7.1%
*2004 Democratic Primary Election for State Assembly, 69th District
**Tom Umberg (D), 8,498 - 51.2%
**Claudia Alvarez (D), 8,122 - 48.8%
*2002 Democratic Primary Election for Insurance Commissioner
**John Garamendi (D), 800,146 - 38.6%
**Tom Umberg (D), 586,112 - 28.3%
**Thomas M. Calderon (D), 476,234 - 22.9%
**Bill Winslow (D), 213,239 - 10.2%
*1994 General Election for Attorney General
**Dan Lungren (R), 4,438,733 - 53.9%
**Tom Umberg (D), 3,256,070 - 39.5%
**Richard N. Burns (L) - 274,335 - 3.3%
**Robert J. Evans (P&F) 271,459 - 3.3%
*1994 Democratic Primary Election for Attorney General
**Tom Umberg (D), 1,715,098 - 100.0%
*1992 General Election for State Assembly, 69th District
**Tom Umberg (D), 32,700 - 60.0%
**Jo Ellen Allen (R), 18,560 - 34.1%
**David R. Keller (L), 3,217 - 5.9%
*1992 Democratic Primary Election for State Assembly, 69th District
**Tom Umberg (D), 9,637 - 100.0%
*1990 General Election for State Assembly, 72nd District
**Tom Umberg (D), 25,247 - 51.9%
**Curt Pringle (R), 23,411 - 48.1%

Controversy

On June 23, 2005, Umberg admitted he had an extramarital affair in the "Los Angeles Times". Umberg stated that the woman was attempting to confront the Umbergs at his home, at school events, and in the gallery of the Assembly, and had forwarded e-mail messages exchanged during the affair to the "Orange County Register". Separately, on June 24, 2005, the "Register" reported that, contrary to claims made by his 2004 Assembly campaign, Umberg only spent 16 days in Guantanamo Bay for his 2004 tour of duty. Republicans noted that in 1990, Umberg had claimed to be on duty in the "desert", implying that he was participating in Operation Desert Shield when in reality he was doing routine training at Fort Irwin in California's Mojave Desert. In addition, the "Register" also reported that Umberg lived in Villa Park (in the heavily Republican 60th Assembly District) instead of at the address where he was registered to vote, in Santa Ana (in the heavily Democratic 69th Assembly District). The "Register" reported that the woman, former Assembly staffer Ann Wallace, and Umberg continued the affair to November 2004, The "Register" also noted that Umberg would lose his security clearance, and stated on July 9 2005 that Umberg resigned from the Army Reserve. [Gittelsohn, John. [http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/06/24/sections/news/news/article_572865.php "Questions dog Umberg campaign."] "The Orange County Register". July 9 2005. Local 1.] On July 3 2005, the "Register" subsequently published a letter from LTC Jack Einwechter, who served as a military prosecutor with Umberg in Cuba, stating that the "Register" had erroneously reported the length of Umberg's service in Cuba and Washington DC. [ [http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/07/03/sections/commentary/letters/article_582122.php "Col. Umberg has served with honor and distinction," Letters to the Editor.] "The Orange County Register". July 3 2005. Commentary 3.] On July 15, 2005, the "Register" retracted some of its claims about Umberg, stating that Umberg actually transferred from the active Army Reserve before the allegations about Umberg's sexual misconduct were disclosed. It also noted that the retirement would not affect Umberg's security clearance, contrary to what was previously reported. [Gittelsohn, John. [http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/07/15/sections/local/local/article_598296.php "Umberg gave notice in May."] "The Orange County Register". July 15 2005. Local 1.]

External links

* [http://www.umberg4supervisor.com/ Official campaign web site]
* [http://www.mofo.com/attorney/individual.asp?Umberg3657 Official Morrison & Foerster biography]

References