When a congressional seat opens up, it's never too early to start on the attack.

Sen. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, took a swipe Monday at his likeliest Democratic rival for the 51st Congressional District as he called for "termed out, drunk-driving legislators" to vacate the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.

Vargas ostensibly was concerned that six of the seven sitting board members were one-time lawmakers now earning $128,000 each year. But he used the occasion to note that former Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny, a Democratic board member also eyeing that 2012 congressional race, was once arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

In a press release, he added the parenthetical note "Drunk-driving arrest" next to the names of former Sens. Roy Ashburn and Ducheny, who were both appointed to the board after leaving the Legislature last year.

Ashburn's 2010 DUI case, in which he pleaded no contest, is fresh in people's memories. But Ducheny's DUI arrest occurred 11 years ago in Sacramento and received little coverage at the time. She pleaded down to a lesser reckless driving charge in 2000, according to court records.

Vargas said Monday he would write legislation next year to eliminate the panel that reviews unemployment and disability benefits. He also demanded that board members step down.

"It is time to stop this wasteful board from being the place where termed out, drunk-driving legislators get an easy government job and get paid $128,000 per year at taxpayers' expense," Vargas said in a statement.

Vargas denied later in a phone interview that his effort targeted Ducheny, who previously held his 40th Senate District seat. He said he was reacting to the Senate's recent confirmation of Ashburn, and that "everyone" had concerns about Ashburn's 2010 DUI.

The Senate approved Ashburn's confirmation 31-4; Vargas abstained. He said he cited Ducheny's arrest because he "wanted to make sure that we didn't just attack the Republicans," referring to Ashburn.

Ducheny dismissed Vargas' announcement as a "disrespectful" effort to "grandstand for what is clearly political reasons."

"It's a shame that somebody would take on a whole system and a board that protects the due-process rights of workers just to make a personal attack for his personal gain," she said. "It was written about me, and so he's attacking all of my colleagues because he wants to get to me."

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Call Kevin Yamamura, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5548.