04-30-2010, 05:34 PM
RespectableGent Wrote:Is it unethical for a mayor to misrepresent her credentials? Sure. But there's nothing criminal about it. Oregon likes to play tough and pretend that it is, but it really isn't.
Will Patti Galle be going to jail? No, she will not.
In Oregon it's specifically illegal to make false representations on an election affidavit. See ORS 260.715(1).
Also, fraud is a crime most places. Send that bogus resume or job app in the mail and it becomes a potential federal offense as well.
Just because people are rarely prosecuted for such relative trivialities doesn't mean that it's not a potential criminal offense. Considering how easy it is to verify a degree, it's really stupid to ever lie about having a degree when you don't.
Under the circumstances, I can definitely see this lady doing some time.