Curt Pringle
Encyclopedia
Curtis L. "Curt" Pringle (born June 27, 1959), is a politician
from the U.S. state
of California
. Pringle, a Republican
, a onetime Speaker of the California State Assembly, former Mayor
of Anaheim, California
and former Chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority, today runs his own public relations and government affairs firm, Curt Pringle & Associates.
City Council
. In 1986, while working for his parents' drapery business, Pringle ran unopposed for the Orange County
Republican Central Committee, which is the controlling organ of the county Republican Party
. In 1988, the Republican nominee for Pringle's Assembly
district, freshman incumbent Assemblyman Dick Longshore, died the day after the June primary election, and under California law the central committee members were charged with selecting a replacement. They chose Pringle.
Tom Umberg
, but after legislative district lines were drawn between Pringle and Umberg's houses following the 1990 census, Pringle ran again for the Assembly in 1992 and won. Pringle worked his way up the Republican hierarchy, and in 1996, after a protracted power struggle between Republicans and former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown
, he was elected Speaker of the Assembly. According to Brown, Pringle was the last Speaker to wield broad power in that office, since rule changes immediately after Pringle's tenure transferred much of the Speaker's authority to committee chairmen. Pringle, for example, issued committee assignments to both parties' members, controlled State Assembly funds, and had broad administrative authority.
in the 1998 race for California State Treasurer
, Pringle launched a government affairs, public relations
, and entitlement
firm, Curt Pringle & Associates, LLC, where he is currently President. His firm's clients have included ARCO
, the County of Orange
, the City of Newport Beach
, Yamaha, and Jack in the Box
.
Curt Pringle and Associates is officed in Anaheim.
Pringle was also appointed in 1998 by Governor
Pete Wilson
to the Orange County Fair
Board, where he served for four years. He was also appointed in 2007 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
to the Public Employees Post Employment Benefits Commission and to the California High Speed Rail Authority.
Pringle served four and a half years on the California High-Speed Rail Authority, including two years as Chairman of the Authority.
Currently, Pringle serves as Chairman of the Orange County Tax Payers Association.
, the tenth-most populous city in the state. Pringle won a multi-candidate race, with 36% of the vote, finishing 7% ahead of his nearest competitor, Anaheim
City Council
woman Lucille King (29%). During his tenure as mayor, Pringle and the Anaheim City Council over which he presided enacted a number of reforms that The Orange County Register
depicted as "freedom-friendly." According to the Los Angeles Times
, "Pringle has built such a strong reputation for his aggressive pro-business approach to governance (creative tax waivers, sweeping zone changes, market incentives to redevelop run-down parts of the city) that other local officials have coined a verb for his philosophy: 'to Pringle-ize.'"
Although in Anaheim, the Mayor is technically just primus inter pares
among fellow city council members, Pringle was an active Mayor, governing with majority support on the city council. Pringle led the effort to transform the area surrounding Angel Stadium and Honda Center (formerly the Arrowhead Pond
) into the Platinum Triangle
, which is meant to be Orange County's central business district. He was also the public face for the city as it courted the National Football League
for a football franchise and fought the Angels
baseball club over its name change from "Anaheim Angels" to "Los Angeles
Angels of Anaheim."
Pringle was also seen occasionally with mayors of other major California cities when they traveled to Sacramento
to collectively lobby the Governor
and California State Legislature
. He has a good relationship with Los Angeles
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
, a Democrat and former Speaker of the Assembly, whom he knows from their years together in Sacramento, and Pringle even hosted a fundraiser for Villaraigosa's unsuccessful 2001 bid for L.A. Mayor (Villaraigosa eventually made a successful bid in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009).
Pringle was also a member of the Orange County Transportation Authority
's board of directors
.
Pringle also served as a Governor's appointee to the California High-Speed Rail Authority Commission and the Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission.
In August 2006, the Los Angeles Times's West magazine named Pringle as one of the 100 most powerful people in Southern California
. And the OC Metro magazine listed Pringle in their Hot 25 for 2006.
Pringle faced only nominal opposition for a second term as mayor, after his chief critic on the city council, Harry Sidhu
, endorsed him. Pringle raised nearly half a million dollars for his re-election bid, as opposed to his nominal opponent, William Fitzgerald, who raised very little. On November 7, Pringle was re-elected with 79% of the vote, the highest percentage of any local candidate in OC who faced opposition in 2006.
.
In addition to his political work, Pringle is an adjunct professor at the University of California, Irvine
and Chapman University, where he teaches California politics and government.
but moved with his family to California and settled in Garden Grove, California
at the age of nine in 1968. For much of his adult life he lived in Garden Grove, which is adjacent to Anaheim. He has been married to his wife Alexis since 1984, with whom he has two children, Kyle and Katie.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Pringle, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, a onetime Speaker of the California State Assembly, former Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
and former Chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority, today runs his own public relations and government affairs firm, Curt Pringle & Associates.
Early political career
As a young man, Pringle ran, unsuccessfully, three times for a seat on the Garden GroveGarden Grove, California
Garden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
. In 1986, while working for his parents' drapery business, Pringle ran unopposed for the Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
Republican Central Committee, which is the controlling organ of the county Republican Party
California Republican Party
The California Republican Party is the California affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party chairman is Tom Del Beccaro and is based in Burbank, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The RPC also has a headquarters in Sacramento....
. In 1988, the Republican nominee for Pringle's Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
district, freshman incumbent Assemblyman Dick Longshore, died the day after the June primary election, and under California law the central committee members were charged with selecting a replacement. They chose Pringle.
California State Assembly
Pringle took office as a state assemblyman in December 1988 at the age of 29. In 1990, he was defeated for re-election by DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Tom Umberg
Tom Umberg
Thomas John Umberg is a U.S. politician, who was a Democrat in the California State Assembly, representing the 69th District.-Military service and family:...
, but after legislative district lines were drawn between Pringle and Umberg's houses following the 1990 census, Pringle ran again for the Assembly in 1992 and won. Pringle worked his way up the Republican hierarchy, and in 1996, after a protracted power struggle between Republicans and former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown
Willie Brown (politician)
Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, spending 15 years as its Speaker, and afterward served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco, the first African American to do so...
, he was elected Speaker of the Assembly. According to Brown, Pringle was the last Speaker to wield broad power in that office, since rule changes immediately after Pringle's tenure transferred much of the Speaker's authority to committee chairmen. Pringle, for example, issued committee assignments to both parties' members, controlled State Assembly funds, and had broad administrative authority.
Curt Pringle & Associates, LLC
After losing to Phil AngelidesPhil Angelides
Philip Nicholas "Phil" Angelides is an American politician who was California State Treasurer and the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of California in the 2006 elections...
in the 1998 race for California State Treasurer
California State Treasurer
The California State Treasurer is responsible for the state's investment and finance. The post has more narrow responsibilities and authority than the California State Controller...
, Pringle launched a government affairs, public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
, and entitlement
Entitlement
An entitlement is a guarantee of access to benefits based on established rights or by legislation. A "right" is itself an entitlement associated with a moral or social principle, such that an "entitlement" is a provision made in accordance with legal framework of a society...
firm, Curt Pringle & Associates, LLC, where he is currently President. His firm's clients have included ARCO
ARCO
Atlantic Richfield Company is an oil company with operations in the United States as well as in Indonesia, the North Sea, and the South China Sea. It has more than 1,300 gas stations in the western part of the United States. ARCO was originally formed by the merger of East Coast-based Atlantic...
, the County of Orange
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, the City of Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, Yamaha, and Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box is an American fast-food restaurant founded by Robert O. Peterson in 1951 in San Diego, California, where it is still headquartered today. In total, the chain has 2,200 locations, primarily serving the West Coast of the United States...
.
Curt Pringle and Associates is officed in Anaheim.
Pringle was also appointed in 1998 by Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Pete Wilson
Pete Wilson
Peter Barton "Pete" Wilson is an American politician from California. Wilson, a Republican, served as the 36th Governor of California , the culmination of more than three decades in the public arena that included eight years as a United States Senator , eleven years as Mayor of San Diego and...
to the Orange County Fair
Orange County Fair (California)
The Orange County Fair, abbreviated as the OC Fair, is a 23-day annual fair that is held every summer at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California.-History:...
Board, where he served for four years. He was also appointed in 2007 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
to the Public Employees Post Employment Benefits Commission and to the California High Speed Rail Authority.
Pringle served four and a half years on the California High-Speed Rail Authority, including two years as Chairman of the Authority.
Currently, Pringle serves as Chairman of the Orange County Tax Payers Association.
Mayor of Anaheim
In 2002, Pringle re-entered electoral politics with his campaign for Mayor of Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, the tenth-most populous city in the state. Pringle won a multi-candidate race, with 36% of the vote, finishing 7% ahead of his nearest competitor, Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
woman Lucille King (29%). During his tenure as mayor, Pringle and the Anaheim City Council over which he presided enacted a number of reforms that The Orange County Register
The Orange County Register
The Orange County Register is a daily newspaper published in Santa Ana, California. The Register is the flagship publication of Freedom Communications, Inc., which publishes 28 daily newspapers, 23 weekly newspapers, Coast magazine, and several related Internet sites.The Register is notable for its...
depicted as "freedom-friendly." According to the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, "Pringle has built such a strong reputation for his aggressive pro-business approach to governance (creative tax waivers, sweeping zone changes, market incentives to redevelop run-down parts of the city) that other local officials have coined a verb for his philosophy: 'to Pringle-ize.'"
Although in Anaheim, the Mayor is technically just primus inter pares
Primus inter pares
Primus inter pares is Latin phrase describing the most senior person of a group sharing the same rank or office.When not used in reference to a specific title, it may indicate that the person so described is formally equal, but looked upon as an authority of special importance by their peers...
among fellow city council members, Pringle was an active Mayor, governing with majority support on the city council. Pringle led the effort to transform the area surrounding Angel Stadium and Honda Center (formerly the Arrowhead Pond
Arrowhead Pond
The Honda Center, previously known as the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and colloquially called The Pond or The Ponda, is an indoor arena in Anaheim, California. The arena is home to the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks and was home of the former National Lacrosse League's Anaheim Storm, which...
) into the Platinum Triangle
Platinum Triangle, Anaheim, California
The Platinum Triangle is a district of Anaheim, California surrounding the city's two major sports venues, the Honda Center and Angel Stadium of Anaheim...
, which is meant to be Orange County's central business district. He was also the public face for the city as it courted the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for a football franchise and fought the Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
baseball club over its name change from "Anaheim Angels" to "Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Angels of Anaheim."
Pringle was also seen occasionally with mayors of other major California cities when they traveled to Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
to collectively lobby the Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
and California State Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
. He has a good relationship with Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
, a Democrat and former Speaker of the Assembly, whom he knows from their years together in Sacramento, and Pringle even hosted a fundraiser for Villaraigosa's unsuccessful 2001 bid for L.A. Mayor (Villaraigosa eventually made a successful bid in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009).
Pringle was also a member of the Orange County Transportation Authority
Orange County Transportation Authority
The Orange County Transportation Authority is the public sector transportation planning body and mass transit service provider for Orange County, California. Its ancestor agencies include not only the prior Orange County Transit District but also such diverse entities as the Pacific Electric...
's board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
.
Pringle also served as a Governor's appointee to the California High-Speed Rail Authority Commission and the Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission.
In August 2006, the Los Angeles Times's West magazine named Pringle as one of the 100 most powerful people in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. And the OC Metro magazine listed Pringle in their Hot 25 for 2006.
Pringle faced only nominal opposition for a second term as mayor, after his chief critic on the city council, Harry Sidhu
Harry Sidhu
Harry Sidhu is an American businessman and Republican politician, in Orange County, California, currently serving as an Anaheim City Councilman....
, endorsed him. Pringle raised nearly half a million dollars for his re-election bid, as opposed to his nominal opponent, William Fitzgerald, who raised very little. On November 7, Pringle was re-elected with 79% of the vote, the highest percentage of any local candidate in OC who faced opposition in 2006.
Education and teaching career
Pringle earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in public administration from California State University, Long BeachCalifornia State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
.
In addition to his political work, Pringle is an adjunct professor at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
and Chapman University, where he teaches California politics and government.
Personal life
Pringle was born in Emmetsburg, IowaEmmetsburg, Iowa
Emmetsburg is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,958 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Palo Alto County. Emmetsburg is home to a campus of Iowa Lakes Community College...
but moved with his family to California and settled in Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
at the age of nine in 1968. For much of his adult life he lived in Garden Grove, which is adjacent to Anaheim. He has been married to his wife Alexis since 1984, with whom he has two children, Kyle and Katie.
Electoral history
- 2006 General Election for Mayor of Anaheim
- Curt Pringle, 41,449 - 79.0%
- William Fitzgerald, 11,004 - 21.0%
- 2002 General Election for Mayor of Anaheim
- Curt Pringle, 16,146 - 35.9%
- Lucille Kring, 12,142 - 27.0%
- Frank Feldhaus, 9,783 - 21.7%
- Steve Staveley, 6,928 - 15.4%
- 1998 General Election for State Treasurer
- Phil AngelidesPhil AngelidesPhilip Nicholas "Phil" Angelides is an American politician who was California State Treasurer and the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of California in the 2006 elections...
(D), 4,164,708 - 52.7% - Curt Pringle (R), 3,158,624 - 39.9%
- Jon Petersen (L), 183,356 - 2.4%
- Carlos Aguirre (NL), 172,711 - 2.1%
- Jan Tucker (P&F), 146,167 - 1.8%
- Edmon Kaiser (AI), 91,764 - 1.1%
- Phil Angelides
- 1998 Republican Primary Election for State Treasurer
- Curt Pringle (R), 1,493,608 - 62.2%
- Jan GoldsmithJan GoldsmithJan Goldsmith is a Republican politician from San Diego, CA who currently serves as the San Diego City Attorney.-Education:He received his undergraduate degree from American University in Washington, DC and his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.-Political career:Formerly the...
(R), 907,395 - 37.8%
- 1996 General Election for State Assembly, 68th District
- Curt Pringle (R), 56,493 - 58.7%
- Audrey Gibson (D), 39,754 - 41.3%
- 1996 Republican Primary Election for State Assembly, 68th District
- Curt Pringle (R), 24,469 - 100.0%
- 1994 General Election for State Assembly, 68th District
- Curt Pringle (R), 51,977 - 63.3%
- Irv Pickler (D), 30,184 - 36.7%
- 1994 Republican Primary Election for State Assembly, 68th District
- Curt Pringle (R), 20,848 - 100.0%
- 1992 General Election for State Assembly, 68th District
- Curt Pringle (R), 61,615 - 57.1%
- Linda Kay Rigney (D), 46,222 - 42.9%
- 1992 Republican Primary Election for State Assembly, 68th District
- Curt Pringle (R), 17,346 - 60.9%
- Joy Neugebauer (R), 6,313 - 22.1%
- Rhonda McCune (R), 4,840 - 17.0%
- 1990 General Election for State Assembly, 72nd District
- Tom UmbergTom UmbergThomas John Umberg is a U.S. politician, who was a Democrat in the California State Assembly, representing the 69th District.-Military service and family:...
(D), 25,247 - 51.9% - Curt Pringle (R), 23,411 - 48.1%
- Tom Umberg
- 1988 General Election for State Assembly, 72nd District
- Curt Pringle (R), 34,037 - 50.6%
- Rick Thierbach (D), 33,194 - 49.4%