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

Gamble submitted petitions for her re-election to the City Council that violated the law because she did not personally witness the signatures, prosecutors said. If she is re-elected Tuesday, she will not be able to take office and the city will have to hold a special election, prosecutors said.

Her attorney, Paul Meyer, characterized the situation as a mistake and said she 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 a correction. She consulted two expert election lawyers who confirmed that the law did not allow correction at that time. He had the lawyer notify (the Prosecutor’s Office) of her decision to admit wrongdoing and resign if chosen.”

Meyer pointed out that officials “who learned about the error withheld the information until the deadline for the correction had passed. It was their right to do so. That’s how politics is in today’s world.”

Gamble “issued a statement admitting her error. She voluntarily agreed to return all her contributions and did so,” Meyer said. “She said she would resign if elected. None of this is required by today’s plea. It’s all voluntary.”

Meyer said Gamble was “embarrassed” and added that “she is a wonderful and respected woman who has dedicated decades to creating and developing a city that she loves. He appreciates the fact that he was able to work over decades in the service. Thanks to everyone for the huge outpouring of support and shock at how the law works here.”

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

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

Spitzer added: “I refuse to allow our election process to be undermined and exploited by anyone. The decision to file criminal charges against the candidate prior to the election is not one we have taken lightly, but given the risk to the election process as well as the potential for the City of Rancho Santa Margarita to pay for a special election if Gamble would be re-elected, she had no choice but to file criminal charges before the election and warn voters of her ineligibility to run for City Council.”

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