Mayor Carol Gamble of Rancho Santa Margarita has confessed to falsifying nomination paperwork for re-election, thus making her ineligible to serve if she wins the November 5, 2024, City Council election for District 3. As reported by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Gamble's name remains on the ballots, and her potential victory could trigger a costly special election for the city.
In an oversight by the election process, the ballots had already been printed with Gamble's name before she admitted to the nomination irregularities. Charged with a misdemeanor, she accepted a plea that includes 160 hours of community service and one year of probation, among other stipulations. The ballots, which carried her name, if result in her election, could lead to additional voting, while the city shoulders the financial burden.
Gamble's admission concerning the falsified documents pertains to her claim that she personally collected 30 signatures required for candidacy. However, multiple signatories have since revealed to district attorney investigators that Mayor Gamble did not witness their signing, counter to her oath under penalty of perjury. As a consequence, her eligibility to re-assume her council seat is now revoked.
"American democracy relies on the absolute integrity of the electoral process," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in a statement. Interference in any stage of the electoral process, he emphasized, undermines the democracy foundation itself and shakes the confidence voters place in the sanctity of their ballots. Heavy with the gravity of pre-election charges, the decision was made to uphold electoral integrity with no other viable alternative, reluctant though the choice was.
To prevent further breaches of trust, Spitzer assured that the DA's office stands ready to investigate and prosecute any form of election fraud. Deputy District Attorney Heather Heslep-Morrissey of the Special Prosecutions Unit is assigned to the proceedings against Gamble. The final amount of restitution remains in flux pending the election results and its potential fallout.
