HALIFAX - A member of the Nova Scotia legislature who became a central figure in a spending allowance scandal has resigned his seat.
The Conservative party says Richard Hurlburt resigned his seat for the riding of Yarmouth on Tuesday.
"Richard Hurlburt has served this province, and more importantly, the people of Yarmouth passionately over the past 10 years," interim Tory Leader Karen Casey said in a statement.
"I am hopeful that the people of Yarmouth will remember that."
The statement did not mention why Hurlburt is leaving politics.
The former Conservative cabinet minister was criticized after a report by the province's auditor general showed he spent $7,995 in public money to buy a generator, which was installed in his home.
Hurlburt initially defended the purchase as a valid expense, but later apologized and said he repaid it.
On Monday, the Speaker's Office released a list of questionable expenses that showed Hurlburt also charged taxpayers $2,499 for a 40-inch TV and $579 for installing it. He did not disclose those expenses to the public.
Premier Darrell Dexter has promised to introduce legislation to strengthen spending controls, such as replacing the all-party board that regulates members' expenses with a commission that will meet publicly.
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