Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Carol Gamble pleads guilty to falsifying candidacy papers

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. (CNS) — Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Carol Gamble pleaded guilty Friday as expected to a misdemeanor charge related to nominating petitions and was ordered to perform 160 hours of community service.

Prosecutors said Gamble filed nominating petitions for re-election to the City Council, which violated the law because he did not personally witness the signatures. If he is re-elected Tuesday, he would not be able to hold office and the city would have to hold a special election, prosecutors said.

His attorney, Paul Meyer, called the situation a mistake and said he immediately agreed to cooperate with law enforcement.

“As soon as he learned of the error, he contacted the city to correct it,” he added. “The law did not allow correction. He consulted with two expert election attorneys, who confirmed that the law did not allow correction at that time. He had his attorney notify (the District Attorney’s Office) of his decision to admit the error and resign if necessary. He was elected.”

Meyer pointed out that “officials who learned of the error withheld the information until the deadline for correction passed. This was their right. Such is politics in today’s world.”

Gamble “issued a statement admitting his mistake. He agreed to voluntarily return all of his contributions, and he did so,” Meyer said. “He said he would resign if elected. None of this is necessary in today’s defense. It is completely voluntary.”

Meyer said Gamble was “embarrassed” and added: “She is a wonderful and respected woman who has devoted decades to creating and growing the city she loves. She appreciates her ability to work overtime for decades in service. She thanks everyone.” “The support is pouring in and they are shocked at the way the law works here.”

Prosecutors said Gamble, a four-term mayor, agreed to plead guilty, perform 160 hours of community service and serve a year of probation.

“American democracy depends on the absolute integrity of the electoral process,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. he said. “Voters must have full confidence that every election is conducted in a fair and impartial manner. Interference in the electoral process in any way and at any stage jeopardizes the will of the people while undermining voters’ confidence in their votes.”

Spitzer added: “I refuse to allow our election process to be subverted and abused by anyone. The decision to file criminal charges against a candidate in advance of the election is not one I took lightly, but one I made considering the risks to the election process. Gamble is reinstated.” “With the potential for the city of Rancho Santa Margarita to have to pay for a special election if elected, there was no choice but to file criminal charges before the election and warn voters that he was ineligible to run for City Council.”

Fullerton City Council candidate Scott Edward Markowitz pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for the same crime earlier this month and was sentenced to 160 hours of community service.