3 Clean Election candidates must pay back
Ran as Libertarians in District 17

Adam Klawonn
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 30, 2003 12:00 AM

Three Clean Election candidates who spent taxpayer funds on computers, consultants and Scottsdale nightclubs in the state's 2002 race will have to pay back $103,000.

It took three hours Tuesday for the Clean Elections Commission to vote 5-0 against the three District 17 Libertarian candidates. State auditors couldn't turn up enough receipts to track the publicly financed cash.

The case involved Senate candidate Yuri C. Downing, 32, and House candidates Trevor O. Clevenger, 30, and Paul DeDonati, 33. The district they ran in covers north Tempe and south Scottsdale.

Their campaign finance reports at the time showed expenses for $7,780 in meals at posh Scottsdale hangouts like Ra Sushi Bar, Axis-Radius, Sanctuary and AZ 88 and consultant fees for Yuri's brother, Demitri.

None of them won more than 3.7 percent of the vote. Their run was funded by a taxpayer check-off on state tax returns.

They will have 30 days to file an appeal with the state. The commission is not required to accept the ruling.

Downing, who spent $41,000 in public campaign money, said the commission targeted the three campaigns because they ran unconventional races.

"I went after a younger demographic," Downing said, promising an appeal of the commission's decision. "They see anything that isn't traditional as a threat."

The commission provides campaign money to candidates who qualify by collecting a set amount of $5 donations from voters. Participating candidates can't accept other contributions.

Downing, a contributing editor of Studio 944, an entertainment magazine based in Tempe, spent $1,800 on office supplies, $1,000 on computer services and $900 on food, including $300 at a Scottsdale sushi restaurant, according to records.

Clevenger and DeDonati each spent $31,000 in public campaign funding. Expenses for DeDonati and Clevenger included $4,400 and $2,800 for office supplies, respectively, according to records.

Clevenger didn't return phone calls seeking comment. DeDonati doesn't have a listed phone number.

Associated Press contributed to this article.

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