Washington, DC -- Public Campaign’s executive director Nick Nyhart issued this statement commenting on today’s decision by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission to remove a state representative for spending significantly more than he was allowed under the state’s Clean Elections law during the 2004 election cycle:

“When state Representative David Burnell Smith voluntarily decided to participate in Arizona’s Clean Elections system and receive public funds for his campaign, he signed a contract with the people and the state of Arizona that he would abide by the fair and balanced spending limits applying to anyone running for that office. An investigation has found that he exceeded that limit by 17%, and the law makes clear that anyone who overspends by at least 10% of the limit may be removed from office.

“While controversial, the Commission made the right choice. Clean Elections promises a level playing field to all who participate in it, benefiting the citizens of Arizona by ensuring that the candidates they choose from are competing on the basis of the strength of their ideas, not the size of their wallets. By removing Smith from office, the Commission is ensuring that future candidates know if they voluntarily limit their spending, they will compete on a genuinely level playing field.

“Clean Elections is working for the people of Arizona by allowing many more qualified candidates to run for office, increasing the number of competitive races, opening doors for a more diverse pool of candidates, and freeing elected officials from their dependence on wealthy special interests—putting voters in democracy’s driver’s seat. If a participating candidate was allowed to take public funds and then break the law without consequence, the entire system would fall apart. The Arizona Clean Elections Commission has struck a blow for a fairer and more representative democracy.”