Mail Tribune News - Taber review may last until after election

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Taber review may last until after election ASHLAND -- A state review of an error on City Council candidate Bob Taber's filing form may not be completed before next week's election. Taber listed his occupation as physiotherapist but is not licensed by the state, which regulates the field. The Ashland man specializes in therapeutic massage to relieve chronic pain. State elections officials investigating the error got Taber's written statement in mid-October. That statement and the initial complaint are being reviewed by state election lawyers. Norma Buckno of the state elections division said the legal team has the case but it's unclear how long it will take them to review it. Statewide, Buckno said there are usually five or six similar cases each election where questions arise about required information on campaign filings or the Voters' Pamphlet. There have been five this year. Election officials try to complete reviews on those cases before the election if there's no evidence of wrongdoing. More questionable cases are sent to the state attorney general's office. Taber could be charged with a Class C felony if it can be proven that he knowingly lied about his occupation on campaign forms. His opponent, Ashland lawyer David Fine, has called for Taber to pull out of the race because of the filing error. Mail Tribune Copyright �  The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA