Ukrainian activist indicted for forgery and theft in public campaign finance case

Volodymyr Golovan helped Portland City Council candidate Emilie Boyles obtain election funding

LocalNewsDaily.com, Dec 13, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

Volodymyr Golovan

Courtesy of Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Volodymyr Golovan, the Ukrainian activist who helped former Portland City Council candidate Emilie Boyles obtain public funding for her campaign, has been indicted by a grand jury on 12 counts, including 6 counts of forgery and 3 counts of identity theft.

Golovan collected most of the 1,000 signatures that qualified Boyles to receive $145,000 in city funding for her May primary bid against Commissioner Erik Sten. Those signatures later came into question based on an Oregonian investigation that found many of the signatures appeared to be written in the same handwriting. Based on apparent violations of the city’s public campaign financing rules, City Auditor Gary Blackmer has demanded Boyles repay the city.

The grand jury first met last month to consider possible charges against Golovan, but no indictment was filed then. The grand jury handed down the indictment on Tuesday evening, but released it publicly Wednesday after Golovan turned himself in to the Portland Police Bureau.

Golovan was also indicted on one count of unsworn falsification; one count of aggravated theft and one count of attempted aggravated theft.

The Ukrainian activist, who founded the Portland Russian and Ukrainian chambers of commerce, in November 2005 was appointed by Mayor Tom Potter to his Vision Project Committee. According to a mayoral spokesman, Golovan is no longer affiliated with that project.

Blackmer said Boyles has repaid about $68,000, but still owes about $95,500, including penalties and interest. He said the city is preparing to file papers to collect the money in Montana. That's where Boyles was last known to be working, for a television station.

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