PITTSBURGH — A state legislator who admitted using fictitious names to attack constituents who support natural gas drilling is being urged to resign by some voters and newspapers.

Rep. Jesse White, D-Allegheny, apologized last week for the online attacks.

The Observer-Reporter of Washington said a search of its website found numerous posts by “Janice Gibson” came from an Internet address that matches White’s personal account. The posts criticized local officials and fellow Democrats Sen. Tim Solobay and Rep. Brandon Neuman, and urged that some employees of energy company Range Resources be fired.

White also called former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell a “paid whore” for the natural gas industry.