Commission confirms ouster of legislator

Arizona's public campaign financing commission has affirmed a judge's decision removing a lawmaker from office for violating campaign finance rules and laws.

The Citizens Clean Elections Commission on Thursday accepted the ruling that Republican Rep. Doug Quelland of Phoenix illegally padded his publicly funded campaign with private money. Quelland denies doing that.

The commission itself found the same thing in May and ordered him removed from office, but Quelland appealed to an administrative law judge. The judge upheld his removal but reduced his fine from $45,500 to $31,000 last week.

Quelland's attorney says his client will challenge the commission's decision in Superior Court.

Quelland remains in office pending the appeal.