TREASURER

PHIL ANGELIDES

Angelides served as chairman of the state Democratic Party from 1990 to 1993. He won the party’s nomination for state treasurer in 1994, but angered some fellow Democrats with his hard-hitting ads against a rival in the primary campaign. He lost that race to current state Treasurer Matt Fong.

* Party: Democratic

* Occupation: Real estate developer

* Age: 45

* Residence: Sacramento

* Education: Graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor of arts degree in government.

* Career highlights: Housing administrator for former Gov. Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown Jr., chief of staff for former Assembly Majority Leader Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles). He served as lead negotiator in 1997 to keep the National Basketball Assn.’s Kings in Sacramento.

* Priorities: Improve California’s credit rating to AAA; increase investments in state companies by state employee retirement funds; establish state audits of local government investment funds.

CURT PRINGLE

An Orange County legislator since 1988, Pringle prevailed in a power struggle to become speaker of the Assembly in 1996, a job he relinquished when the GOP lost the majority in the 1996 elections. In recent years, his reputation has grown from that of back-bench ideologue to a key Republican legislative leader.

* Party: Republican

* Occupation: State assemblyman

* Age: 39

* Residence: Anaheim

* Education: Graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public administration.

* Career highlights: Elected to the Assembly in 1988. Lost in 1990 and captured a seat in a neighboring district in 1992. Has served as Assembly speaker and Assembly minority leader.

* Priorities: Fund prison construction through variable-rate bonds to save $400 million; create a “special reserve fund” in case of fiscal emergency; improve state’s bond rating to AAA.