CHECCHI TOLD TO STOP USING CLINTON IN ADS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

The White House became involved in California's Democratic race for governor Monday when a lawyer for President Clinton asked gubernatorial candidate Al Checchi to stop using footage of the president in his commercials.

Lisa Hertzer Schertler, associate counsel to the president, said the White House became aware of the commercial only recently.

``We write to inform you that longstanding White House policy prohibits the use of the name or image of the president in either political or commercial advertising without the prior authorization of the White House Counsel's office,'' Schertler wrote.

Checchi campaign manager Darry Sragow said they had contacted the White House after receiving what they described as a ``form letter.''

``The picture we have is one in (Checchi's) possession,'' Sragow said. ``While we are not required to do so, we will either change the ad or pull it.''

The commercials featuring Clinton criticize Checchi's opponent, U.S. Rep. Jane Harman of Torrance for her votes on the budget.

Harman campaign manager Kam Kuwata acknowledged it was the Harman campaign that alerted the White House to the commercials.

``Mr. Checchi and his campaign have run a series of commercials filled with inaccurate information, misrepresentations and have now used our president without his permission. Mr. Checchi should pull his ads, run a truthful campaign and support our president,'' Kuwata said.

Sragow defended the commercials, saying ``everything we have put in is factually accurate.''

Clinton has stayed out of the race so far and not endorsed a candidate.

But he is close to Harman and appeared at a round table conference with business leaders at the Northridge factory owned by her husband several years ago.