Quelland ends appeal; replacement coming soon

Rep. Doug Quelland has ended his appeal of the Clean Elections Commission’s decision to remove him from office.

Quelland’s attorney, Tim Casey, informed the Arizona Court of Appeals that the Phoenix Republican would not follow through with his intent to appeal a Maricopa County Superior Court judge’s order that backed the commission’s earlier decision. 

“I’m glad that the matter is complete,” Clean Elections Director Todd Lang said after he received Casey’s motion.

Quelland’s troubles began a few weeks after he prevailed in the 2008 elections, when Carol Vandercook, a Democrat who lives in Quelland’s district, filed a complaint with the help of attorney Jim Barton.

Vandercook’s complaint included a copy of a $15,000 political consulting contract signed by Quelland and Larry Davis, owner of Intermedia Public Relations. The contract put Quelland well above expenditure limits for publicly funded candidates.

With his appeals process over, Quelland became the second lawmaker in Arizona to be removed from office for public campaign finance violations. The first was David Burnell Smith, who was ordered from office in January 2006 by the Arizona Supreme Court for violating his 2004 primary election spending limits.

The delay in appointing a replacement for Quelland’s vacant Legislative District 10 House seat may be over. Legislative sources say the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is planning to meet on the matter early next week.

Cari Gerchick, a county spokeswoman, said the Board is eyeing Aug. 2 for a special meeting to consider Quelland’s replacement for the rest of the year.