Freedom Arizona

The Citizens Clean Elections Commission voted Friday to remove Rep. Doug Quelland from office and assess $45,500 in penalties for campaign-finance violations.

Quelland, who has championed the state’s pioneering public-finance law, indicated through his attorney that he has been trying over the last few weeks to reach a settlement that would avoid the requirement that he forfeit his office.

The commission voted 4-1 that Quelland broke various campaign laws when he hired Larry Davis of Intermedia Public Relations for $15,000 two years ago and did not report the payment.

Quelland has maintained that he fired Davis within two days of hiring him, and never paid him for campaign work, but evidence collected by the commission staff poked holes in his story.

Evidence indicated that despite Quelland’s denials, he wrote checks to Davis that matched the payment schedule in the consulting contract.

Emails also showed that Quelland and Davis were working on the campaign for nearly 1½ years after Quelland said their relationship ended.

Quelland, R-Northwest Phoenix, won a seat in the House of Representatives, running as a publicly-financed candidate. Candidates running with public dollars cannot use private contributions to supplement their campaigns.

Commissioner Lori Daniels made the motion to assess the harsh penalties against Quelland, saying she reached that decision with a “heavy heart” and after much soul searching.

And although she said she believes the commission should refrain as much as possible from removing elected officials from office, Quelland’s case was so egregious that she felt that was the only just punishment.

Commissioner Royann Jordan Parker cast the lone dissent. Although she believes Quelland broke the law, Parker said removal from office is not something the commission should do.

“I believe that’s something between him and the voters of his district,” she said, adding that voters in his Northwest Phoenix district could recall him if they find his conduct objectionable.

Quelland is only the second candidate to be removed from office for violations of the state’s public-finance laws. Republican David Burnell Smith was ousted several years ago.

If Quelland appeals the commission’s decision, he can remain in office during the process.

If he must forfeit his office, he would be replaced by another Republican selected by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

(Source: AZCentral.com)