CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – The House voted Wednesday to let former House Speaker Gene Chandler keep his seat but had him stand at the front of the hall to accept a public rebuke.

Lawmakers voted 189-172 against a recommendation to expel Chandler for ethics violations. They voted 274-86 to censure him, a step above a reprimand in severity, though both actions are symbolic and carry no penalty.

After the vote, House Speaker Douglas Scamman asked Chandler, 57, to stand before the membership to accept the censure, but a majority of members stood to applaud Chandler afterward. Scamman offered Chandler an opportunity to speak but he declined.

Chandler, who is serving his 13th term, later thanked his supporters, “especially the people at home, my constituents who stuck with me through this whole ordeal. It’s been a long ordeal and I hope it’s over.”

The Legislature’s Ethics Committee had recommended that Chandler be expelled for the remaining year and a half of his term for not reporting $64,000 in contributions he collected from lobbyists and others who do business with the Legislature.

The money was raised over the course of several years at corn roast galas. Chandler used the money for car repairs, hotel stays and other personal needs.

Wednesday’s emotional debate began with dozens of House members walking out, rather than hear criticism of their colleague.

Lawmakers left when an outspoken critic started the debate by calling for Chandler’s expulsion. Hudson Republican Shawn Jasper said it seemed clear the House would not vote to expel, but argued strongly for it, saying anything less dishonors the House.

“We need to think about the reputation of the institution. We can expel a member and still be his friend. … Nobody is more important than the institution,” Jasper argued.

“Our form of government can only exist with public trust,” said Kingston Rep. Kenneth Weyler, who along with Keene Rep. Charles Weed filed the initial complaint against Chandler. Weyler noted that Chandler had violated three separate rules.

Chandler supporters said expulsion is too drastic a punishment for what some called an error of judgment. They argue the House has no right to expel Chandler when voters elected him knowing the charges against him.

“To do so is to disenfranchise the voters,” argued Mont Vernon Rep. William O’Brien.

Others spoke to Chandler’s long service in the House, his admission of responsibility and the personal humiliation he has suffered since this became public last summer.

“We have a member who made mistakes and has taken responsibility. He’s apologized and I believe he’s tried to remedy the situation,” said Alton Rep. Michael Whalley, who was deputy House speaker under Chandler.

Colebrook Rep. Fred King urged lawmakers to consider how they’d want to be treated if they were in the same position. “He has already been punished enough,” King said.

Canterbury Rep. Priscilla Lockwood praised Chandler but said his eithics violations reflect badly on the integrity of the House.

“Gene does not deserve this,” she said, “but Representative Chandler does.”

An effort prior to the debate to delay the vote a week so lawmakers had more time to read transcripts of Chandler’s testimony before the ethics committee failed.

Scamman said after the debate that he felt all views got a fair hearing.

“He got censured. Now we’ll move on,” Scamman said.