Can you forge the Governor’s signature and get away with it?

By Steve Poftak
September 17th, 2008

Kelly Timilty, occasional attendee at Governor’s Council meetings, stands accused of doing just that. Multiple media reports allege that she sent out a mailer with a picture of her and the Governor, which included a letter of endorsement over the Governor’s signature (Globe article and mailer copy is here).

The Patrick campaigns states that this was not authorized. Now, I’ve seen numerous mix-ups in the past where campaigns have erroneously added another politician’s name to a list of endorsees. But this seems to rise to something far greater and more deliberate. She’s being accused of forging (or at least appropriating) the sitting Governor’s signature.

To add to the intrigue, the Globe quotes a remorseful father of the candidate:

But her father, Joseph Timility, a former state senator and Boston city councilor, said putting the governor’s signature onto the postcard was “a terrible error.”

“It was a terrible mistake, an error which we apologize for,” he said. “I can’t say strongly enough that the signature on that document is an error and a mistake. For that we will apologize to the governor.”

While State House News (sorry, subscription required) quotes the unrepentant brother of the candidate:

Asked about the allegations, Greg Timilty said the governor “fully endorsed” his sister and was aware that the campaign was going to use the picture of them together in a mailing, with several pictures getting taken at the time. “No mix-up, it was pretty clear,” he said. “I was under the assumption he was fully aware that he was endorsing.” He added: “This is news to me on Election Day and poor timing. But that’s our statement.”