MASSACHUSETTS A member of the state board that approves Notary appointments has been fined $8,000 for falsifying an endorsement from Governor Deval Patrick.
Kelly Timilty of Dedham recently was running for her eighth term on the Governors Council when her campaign staff neglected to get Patricks consent before it mailed a flier to voters that included a photo of Timilty with Patrick along with text purporting to be a letter by Patrick supporting Timilty according to state Attorney General Martha Coakley. The flier included a reproduction of Patricks signature copied from another document.
The Governors Council is an elected body that approves gubernatorial appointments of judges, justices of the peace and Notaries Public, among other duties.
Under the terms of an agreement worked out with the Attorney Generals office, Timilty acknowledged the mistake, agreed to pay the fine and promised to adopt tougher controls for the use of endorsements in future campaign materials. Among the recordkeeping provisions: the campaign committee must first obtain an endorsers express consent in writing.
