State Representative Daniel Patterson has resigned from the Arizona House of Representatives. That word came shortly before the house was scheduled to vote to expel him. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie reports. 

Rep. Daniel Patterson listens to discussion of legislation Tuesday on the House floor after turning in his response to the investigative report commission by the House Ethics Committee, which recommended he be expelled. (Capitol Media Services photo by Howard Fischer)

MARK BRODIE: Earlier Wednesday, the House Ethics Committee recommended expulsion to the house after hearing from Patterson for almost two hours. The Democrat-turned-Independent from Tucson continued to argue the claims against him were unsubstantiated, and to ask for a full ethics hearing. House Democratic Leader Chad Campbell says Patterson’s resignation caught him somewhat off guard.

CHAD CAMPBELL: He dragged this out for six weeks, he went through all of this just to resign, so yeah, I’m surprised in that sense. And, this has been a tough process for all of us, obviously, you know, we could have saved a lot of time and money had Mr. Patterson done the right thing in the first place. But, it’s done, so let’s move on.

BRODIE: Patterson is the second state lawmaker this year to resign due to an ethics investigation. Former senator Scott Bundgaard stepped down in January. Patterson’s seat is now vacant. The Pima County Board of Supervisors will select his replacement.