ALFRED (AP) – A former legislative candidate from Saco who admitted forging voter signatures needed to qualify for public campaign money has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to perform 160 hours of public service.

Sixty-two-year-old Bruce Ladd pleaded guilty last year to one count of aggravated forgery and was sentenced Wednesday in York County Superior Court.

Ladd withdrew from the race in House District 133 after his request for Clean Elections funding was denied.

Attorney General Janet Mills said the public funding law has enabled hundreds of Mainers to run for public office, many for the first time. She said it’s unfortunate that Ladd tried to undermine the system and she pledged to remain vigilant against such abuses of the public trust.