Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Carol Gamble, who has spent 16 of the past 20 years on the city council, entered a guilty plea for falsifying election documents. Her misdemeanor plea acknowledged that she submitted false nomination papers to run for re-election in the upcoming November 5, 2024, city council election. As ballots already list Gamble's name, her ineligibility may necessitate a special election should she win, according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Gamble has agreed to complete 160 hours of community service, submit her DNA, and pay restitution, the amount of which will be determined after the election outcome. Despite being an experienced politician who served four terms as the city's mayor, her violations of the California Elections Code landed her one misdemeanor count for making a false affidavit concerning electoral initiative signatures, specifically her own nomination papers.
Candidates for city council in Rancho Santa Margarita are required to collect 20 signatures from registered voters. These signatures must come with an attestation, signed under penalty of perjury, by the individual who collected them. On August 7, 2024, Gamble falsely attested that she had collected the 30 signatures required for her nomination. However, subsequent investigations revealed that multiple signatories admitted Gamble was not present when they signed the papers.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the significance of electoral integrity, stating, "American democracy relies on the absolute integrity of the electoral process. Voters must have total confidence that every election is being carried out in a fair and unbiased manner." He added, "Interference in the electoral process in any manner and at any stage jeopardizes the will of the people being carried out while eroding the trust of voters that their vote counts." These comments highlight the gravity of Gamble's actions and the potential repercussions on public trust.
Prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Heather Heslep-Morrissey of the Special Prosecutions Unit, this case brings a sharp focus on ensuring that election laws are not only upheld, but transgressions are met with swift accountability. With Gamble's guilty plea arriving just days before the election, the citizens of Rancho Santa Margarita face a unique challenge as they cast their votes under the shadow of this electoral infraction.
