Rep. Ralph Heap, a Republican running for the Arizona Corporation Commission, is being investigated by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission (AZCCEC) over his campaign sign spending. A former GOP district chair complained that the number of signs seen statewide didn't match the $644 Heap reported spending on signs, a fraction of what he spent on signs in his last legislative race.
Because Heap hasn't submitted a sworn statement certifying his finance reports are accurate, the AZCCEC has withheld nearly $370,000 in public funding, saying there's "substantial evidence" that sign costs and funding sources may be missing from his filings. Barred from raising private money while in the clean elections program, his campaign is now down to $9,555 cash on hand. The AZCCEC still has to determine whether any violations occurred. Heap's attorney says the campaign is reviewing the allegations.
