Former state Rep. John Michael does not qualify for public funds to finance his independent run for governor, according to a ruling from the state’s ethics commission – a decision that will save state taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million.

Michael, who said Friday he plans to appeal the decision, missed several deadlines in the qualifying process and may have even committed fraud, according to the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

The commission told Michael that “at most” he had 1,944 of the needed 2,500 $5-checks from registered voters to make him eligible for public financing under the Clean Elections Act.

Michael not only missed two filing deadlines, eliminating close to 500 of the 2,690 checks he submitted, but also handed in some money orders that apparently were not paid for with individual contributions, as is required.

“A number of individuals who signed the receipt and acknowledgement forms have told the commission that they did not give your campaign qualifying contributions, which suggests a pattern of fraud,” the commission wrote in its decision.

In several instances people were told they simply had to sign the money order and the accompanying forms, but did not have to contribute, the commission said.

With Michael disqualified, at least for now, from receiving Clean Election funds, only three candidates running for governor are eligible for the up to $1.2 million a piece to run their campaigns. They include Republican Sen. Chandler Woodcock, Pat LaMarche of the Green Party and independent state Rep. Barbara Merrill.

They will face Democratic Gov. John Baldacci, who is running a privately financed campaign. At least two other independents will appear on the ballot, as will Michael, if he chooses to remain in the race.