OC by Gaslight – Politics

OC Register: Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Carol Gamble suspends council campaign

Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Carol Gamble suspended her campaign for the District 3 City Council seat Sunday afternoon, citing an “error” with her nomination paperwork.

Gamble said she signed her nomination paperwork “attesting to an inaccurate statement,” and it was discovered after the review period to fix it had passed.

“My error, my responsibility and my decisions have been discussed with the District Attorney through my counsel, and no promises have been made to me,” Gamble said in a press release Sunday afternoon.

“To the residents, businesses, Council colleagues and city staff of Rancho Santa Margarita, I am very sorry for my irreversible mistake, and I am at the same time very proud of all that we accomplished by working together,” she said.

Gamble declined requests for additional comment.

Ballots have been mailed to registered voters throughout California, and voting is already underway. That means voters may have already submitted their ballots for Gamble or could do so in the coming weeks. If she wins the election for District 3, Gamble said she will resign from the City Council seat.

Efforts to return campaign contributions from supporters are being made, Gamble said.

“I am deeply embarrassed, take full responsibility and apologize for my error,” she said.

Last week, Fullerton City Council candidate Scott Markowitz was arrested by Orange County District Attorney investigators who said he had falsified his nomination paperwork. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count on Monday and will receive one day in jail, one year of probation and 160 hours of community service.

When asked last week about complaints over Gamble’s paperwork, Kimberly Edds, a spokesperson for the OCDA, said that the office does not “confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.” She did not reply to further requests for comment on Monday.

Keri Lynn Baert, the other candidate for the District 3 seat, said she isn’t focused on Gamble’s decision to suspend her campaign. Baert said she is still doing outreach in the community to inform them of her campaign and gather their support.

“My understanding is that when you suspend your campaign, your name is still on the ballot,” Baert said. “So for me to win — and I plan to win — I’m going to get the most votes.”

Gamble has worked with Rancho Santa Margarita since 1995, before it became a city in 2000. She is currently the city’s mayor, having served in the same position three other times.

District 3 of Rancho Santa Margarita is located in the northern part of the city, surrounded by residential neighborhoods and parks.