STATE GOP GROUP BOOTS OUT SAMBAR.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

Saying he has sold out personal principles for political favor, the California Republican Assembly revoked the membership of Glendale School Board member Chuck Sambar, the group's head said Monday.

Once president of the local chapter of the conservative grass-roots political group, Sambar recently endorsed several Democrats for public office, including congressional candidate Adam Schiff and state Assembly candidate Dario Frommer.

``Chuck Sambar has traded his principles for political opportunism, and he should no longer represent himself as being affiliated with an organization that has always valued principle above politics,'' said Angie Heustis, president of the Glendale Burbank Republican Assembly chapter, in a statement released to the news media.

The group will no longer stand for allowing Sambar to attach the CRA's name to endorsements for liberal candidates, Heustis said.

Sambar called the CRA's action ``absolutely unbelievable.''

``I find it most unfortunate that they resort to destroy and deny my First Amendment rights,'' Sambar said. ``I have dedicated the past 40 years to the principles of tolerance, equality and the right of individuals to support what they believe. I intend to continue to do so. I will not be silenced by any group or individual.''

Frommer, who is running for state Assembly in the 43rd District, said Monday that he is honored to have Sambar's endorsement. Sambar was Frommer's high school student government adviser at Hoover High School nearly two decades ago.

``I think it's really unfortunate that they want to play politics with a personal friendship,'' Frommer said. ``I can't believe they would stoop so low.''

Sambar was told in a letter from the group that if he uses the name of the CRA in any further public comments, they will take legal action.

The CRA calls itself ``staunchly conservative'' and is the ``oldest and most influential grass-roots volunteer organization within the California Republican Party,'' according to its Web site.

Sambar was president of the CRA's Glendale Burbank chapter in 1986. He supported Republican politicians as recently as 1998 when Rep. James Rogan was running for re-election in the 27th Congressional District.

But in the past year, his political affiliations have begun to change. Sambar said on Monday the turnaround came after plenty of thoughtful consideration - not political opportunism. Changing ideological affiliation is not wrong, he said, and added that Rogan was once a Democrat.