Court deals another blow to Quelland

Former Rep. Doug Quelland (File photo)

A judge has denied former Rep. Doug Quelland’s request to halt a court decision that affirmed his removal from office.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Crane McClennen on June 22 rejected Quelland’s motion that sought to allow the former lawmaker to stay in office.

Quelland has been fighting to keep his seat after the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission found last year that he violated campaign finance rules during his 2008 campaign for the House by paying a consultant to do political work with money from his business. The expenditures, the commission argued, violated rules for publicly funded candidates.

Quelland, a Glendale Republican, denied the allegations, arguing that any political work done by the consultant was made on a volunteer basis and that he paid only for work done for his business.

The Commission imposed a fine and ordered Quelland’s removal from office. A judge in May upheld that decision, and McClennen’s ruling June 22 was the latest blow to Quelland.