Arizona: Judge orders Smith to vacate legislative office over campaign finance violations
AP reports: A judge ruled Wednesday that state Rep. David Burnell Smith, R-Scottsdale, must leave office because of campaign finance violations.
Judge Mark Aceto of Maricopa County Superior Court granted a motion filed by Attorney General Terry Goddard on behalf of the state to force Smith from office based on an order by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.
Aceto also granted the commission's request to dismiss Smith's lawsuit challenging the commission's order that he leave office because of overspending by his publicly funded 2004 primary election campaign. And he denied Smith's motion to dismiss the state's request to oust him. -- Judge rules lawmaker must leave office | www.azstarnet.com