How in the world could she possibly know anything about lives around her, blazing by at 50MPH in a 30 zone??

This is unbelievable! How can any of our lawmakers expect anyone to follow our laws when they make such a mockery of them? Drunk driving is a serious crime, it is not a "mistake"!

Her DUI makes me want to vote for her even more. it's good for to have someone on the council that has been through the ridiculousness of the DUI circus.

Most DUI drivers think they are in control and not endangering anyone or else they just don't care. That's exactly why we need the tough laws SKOK!!!

Another above the law wannabe politician.

The vote should be enough. Remember Dirty Harry: "Pretty soon you'll be executing people for jaywalking". I challenge any of you to go the rest of your life under penalty of unemployment, to not make ANY mistake!

Drunk driving should be a felony with mandatory jail time. You should become unemployed and unemployable if you drink and drive, you are basically an attempted murderer. Their should be a circus around getting a DUI. It is mere luck that you didn't kill anyone.

As for Mike's comment, driving drunk is not a "mistake". It's simple, if you are going to drink, even one drink, don't drive. Driving drunk is a mistake sort of like taking a bath with a toaster that is plugged in is a mistake.

O.K. let's see here 50 in a 30 "I wasn't impaired, I
did not endanger anyone and
I refuse to take a breathalyzer- sounds like denial to me. Yes, she'd be
a perfect candidate for our
city council!

Most impaired people are unable to correctly judge whether or not they are impaired unless they are falling down - and maybe not then. Deulusion and drinking go together. If you are going to be behind the wheel - just don't drink!! It's extremely easy to avoid a DUI if you don't have any alcohol.

Wow, I can't believe people think her actions are ok. I agree with Rich, DUI should be a major felony with jail time. What happened to personal responsbility? Bob, I think she is more qualified to be King County Executive.

This whole thing is absurd. The evaluation given by counselors classifies a person as an alcoholic even if they only drink once a week. I find it hard to believe that in her instance she was not found to be have a dependency. just because of her political limelight. Anyone else would have gone to jail, and have been classified as being chemically dependent.

If you want drunk driving to be a felony with mandatory jail…fine, go get the law passed. But you can’t believe that society could afford the unemployability. I don’t believe you never did anything wrong in your life. You just never got caught. There has to be limits on how far you flush, for whatever offense.

Mike, mistakes get made. I have made several and paid the price. I have said I am guilty and paid my fine. I think what bothers everyone is the lack of responsibility shown by Hague and Venus during their arrests. What next, Venus drinks because of her tough childhood? Enough. Accountability is important for everyone, especially so for those we trust with our tax dollars to "do the right thing".

I am just addressing the question/topic: Does a drunk driving arrest disqualify a candidate for public office or not? Answer: We do not have a law in place that does that. Sooo, don’t vote for her. That’s about all you can do, unless you pass a law that says specifically what criteria you want for candidates. Personally, I think that’s a good idea, but until some of us get up and do it there is only one thing to do, vote for someone else. Do you ask everyone you deal with on a daily basis if they have had a DUI: the grocery clerk, road workers, business person, teacher; they all drive the same? Whatever you do you have to make it a law and apply fairly and equally to all? You call the shot with a vote.

Better yet let’s have ‘Laws of Applicability’. For example if you are a teacher we certainly don’t want a deviant; or if you are a financial advisor you could never have embezzled, if you were a carpenter say, you could never have tried to sneak by a building code, or a politician…lets see, they should be perfect, and oh yeah…because they are all wealthy they should work for free. Personally, I like the ability to vote the best.

Mike is correct 100%.
Our votes count in showing we hold those accountable for their choices and actions, paticularily for those "looking" out for OUR interests!
One mistake may be worth forgiving, if there's a second its disgust and if by number three, then we have only ourselves to blame for turning cheek.

We don't need any politican who thinks they are above the law. She has used her influential husband (attorney with close ties to the Mayor) to get out of tickets the rest of us would have to pay for. Two questions: What was she originally stopped for when sited for not having her proof of insurance? Who paid for the dinner where she became impaired? (Remember she didn't have her driver's license and didn't know she had a credit card on her...you really want someone with such inattention to detail to serve on the City Council?)

It was bad enough to get a DUI. But it is her refusal to accept personal responsibility that makes her unworthy to hold public office.

Drive drunk get nailed she is no differnt

Tacky bathrobe, and denial is apparent, glad she is running for office on that side of the mountains.

She said she was "flawed" many times.. This is not someone I would want making decisions on the city council with her "flawed" judgment. No license? No Insurance? I'd hate to get hit by her car when shes driving drunk. Is she going to have to kill or maim someone to realize that she has a problem? Even if she does, I'm sure she will find a way to spin it to blame the system, the victim, her car and anyone but her. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HER EVER.

Oh Puuuulease. Venus, you need help, not a city council position. I am so glad I don't drive where you do.

At first, I thought maybe she, unlike the others we've heared from, was going to take complete responsibility for her actions. At least she isn't a lying Jane.

Velazquez has a long, long history of getting cited for poor driving. Those many citations, particularly not having the insurance card (which she essentially says is because she is not good a record keeping) shows she either doesn't have the insurance or isn't competent to ensure she puts the proof in her car ... and she wants to handle millions of dollars in tax money?

I can't tell you how many dozens of times I've arrested people who had "two drinks" and then blew over a .15 on the breathalyzer. Remember, that she refused to take the breathalyzer (not the PBT, which is the portable test at the scene).

And she said she wasn't going 50 in a 30 zone because she was cited for only 45 in the zone. Actually, it is quite common to cut a driver a break in the speed instead of writing the infraction for the total amount of the offense.

Sheesh!!

Another politician who isn't going to stand up like an adult and say, flatly, I screwed up (which she didn't).

As for the writer who commented about her becoming "unemployed" getting off of the government teat might be a good thing.

and as for the writer who complained about the "DUI circus" .. I'm always amazed at the number of people who are more than willing to publicly profess their (your fill in the blank).

No way would I vote for her. The more she talk the less I liked her. How can she say she was not inpaired when she was driving 50 miles an hours and crossing the yellow line? Is that how she normally drives?She does even acknowledge that she has a problem. She has a pattern of just not caring to respecting the law. This not someone I would ever vote for. I just could never trust anyone like her.

DO THE CRIME PAY THE TIME WA. IS THEE MOST STRICT OF STATES MIN 5YRS PROBATION W/JOKE AA MTGS AND ANY DUI NO MATTER HOW MINOR REQ.INTERLOCK DEVICE MANDATORY SINCE '06 MIN FINE $600 AND MANDATORY AGAIN JOKE-D&A TREatment one must endure like a puppet'usually 2yrs..again coupled with AA MTGS AND THE A/TREATMENT BOTH ARE JOKES AT BEST! JUST ASK BRITNEY SPEARS'SHE WAS ORDERED THE SAME..IT TKAES ONLY 3 TO HAVE AND HOLD A TYPICAL AA MTG...ANYWHERES!!!EVEN YER LOCAL WATERING HOLE'

Venus Velazquez is unfit to serve the citizens of Seattle! 11 cititions, 5 without insurance, speeding and running a stop sign. She has no common sense, period. Our families are not safe with her on the road or city council. She had hard drinks, now she says she drinks wine, liar! I'll be voting for Mr. Harrell, period!

Ms. Velasquez said she enjoyed dinner and drinks like so many people in our city and is admitting personal responsibility for her decisions. That she is not hiding or making excuses is enough for us to look at the skills and experiences she will bring to city council and not just a small section of "news".

I'm very disappointed that she thinks her behavior is normal. She should step down for running for this poisition. I am very glad for the interview hopefully after she watches it she'll understand her behavior is no where near normal that she wouldn't even vote for herself. I look for roll modles to be my elected offical, not people with poor judgement over and over again.

I had the chance to meet Ms. V on the campain trail at a capitol hill forum.

She came across to me as very arogant an out of in fact the only people she
shook hands with where a u group of teenagers not old enough to vote .It seemed odd to me.

I do not think she had the judgement at this time to be on city council.

I would vote for her. She did admit on TV that that she had screwed up, on several occasions. I am against drinking and driving. But everbody makes mistakes. It takes courage to change your life, thank God there are people who have that courage. I have wittnessed several people change for the better. I am sorry for the people who cant see change and wont believe that people can change for the better.

2 normal drinks does not result in over 0.08%. Honesty and basic counting skills will be needed for council.

I am sure she does not know that 40% of Washington traffic deaths are releated to alcohol.

she made a mistake by her choice of driving with alcohol in her system, but she kept saying she was in "full control" BULL!!JUST LIKE SHE WAS IN FULL CONTROL OF ALL HER OTHER TICKETS!SHE WOULD NEVER GET MY VOTE, FOR DENYING HER RESPONSIBILITY!!

What I gleaned from Upfront on Sunday morning is a pattern of traffic infractions. In alcohol related issues, for whatever reason, Venus chose to not allow a breath test. If there was no problem, why would it matter. Venus says she was not impaired, evidence shows otherwise. Probably her reactions after the DUI will influence my vote.

This woman has no clue. In this day and age she should realize that being a public official means to be a role model as well as a representative for the city. We have set the DUI/DWI laws in this country to help saves lives of our families and friends on the roads. Her blatant disregard for that human life sickens me. People do make mistakes, but to then get on television and shrug here responsibility to be a role model to our children and employees by saying she didn't think she was impaired is wrong. The police saved her life and who knows how many else. She should be thanking them for that and fessing up to the fact that when you are impaired you can't make decisions. Not becoming a DUI/DWI statistic means changing your lifestyle and only having one drink with dinner, or no drink at all. If you do have a drink get a ride home, there is no excuse. If it was just that she made a mistake, maybe voting for her would be alright, but the fact that she is still in denial and setting the wrong example for my daughter and employees, no way in heck she would get my vote. The last thing the city needs is another council member that thinks they are above the law or better than the people they are representing. Nuff said!

This just turns my stomach that this adult would think they are not putting anyone else in harms way after all we hear and see. She does not diserve to serve in office. The comments she gives are truth and lies which indicate to me that she can't be trusted for her beliefs. All of this would reflect in her position.

Driving without a license, no proof of insurance, and refusing to take a breathalizer. What a joke, i think she needs to get her priorities strait , i would never vote for someone with such a lack of responsibilty.

I think Venus needs some serious Alcohol education. For her to say she was not impared is a lie. As a nurse that has worked in an ER I have seen what driving after drinking can do. The more I think about the things she said in her interview the more upset I get. Everyone makes mistakes but she needs to own up to ALL of her driving "mistakes"

I will not vote for Venus Velasquez. She is dancing around her DUI infraction the best she can, and the recent revelation about her 11 past citations doesn't demonstrate a history of good judgement. Not what we need on the Council. The same goes for Jane Hague-If there was a better candidate than Pope running against her, she should be defeated or bow out.

I listened to what she had to say...As a person in the chemical dependency field...What the heck was she doing getting behind the wheel of a weapon that has killed so many people...If she didn't feel impaired (which take a very small amount)...Then, I would say she has a tolerance and probably has done this before (drinking and driving),,,She got caught...Another politician in my county (whatcom) got a DUI...The "Taco Bell" employee had to call the police due to his erratic driving...He apologized, just like valasquez...He went to AA meetings and spoke...How hypocrytical is this??? Very....I don't believe her or the others that think they know....I lost a brother to a drunk and drugged-up driver...This driver had very little alcohol in his system...These people should not be allowed to get away w/ it....SORRY doesn't cut it...If these people cared so much about others, then they should take a cab...People are dying out there...ALCOHOL IMPAIRS JUDGEment...This is also a HUGE "red flag" when someone doesn't take the breathalyzer, If they had nothing to hide (representation or not)...Attorneys will always tell you to take the station breathalyzer...and if she refused other things like the field sobriety tests, etc...Then she did have something to hide...She is fortunate NOT to be sitting behind bars for KILLING someones child, mom, dad, etc...THIS happens as low as a 0.028....SHAME ON HER AND ALL THE OTHER POLITICIANS THAT THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY W/ this...

Her defense was to say "I'm human." If that's the best she can offer, then she's not even bright enough to have hired a PR consultant to devise a better strategy to field Mak's questions. She clearly has a pattern of poor decision making, which she admits to by continually responding with the words, "I made a poor decision." That said, she should not even be running for city council, a position that rests on making sound decisions that benefit the Seattle community, not endanger it.

I am trying to see this through Vseazquez'eyes and I cannot. 11 infractions is inexcusable. Not to brag but my proof of ownership and insurance card (second card in my wallet) are both in my card attached to the sun visor. I NEVER leave my home without my wallet. Anyone so dumb as to not do the same cannot get my vote. A City Councilperson like any civil servant must be beyond redoubt in order to handle the complexities of governing. And, has she never seen"If you drink, don't drive!" By the way, I do not drink and I've had one speeding ticket (35 in a 25 mile zone) and two accidents (victim in both) in the last 10+ years.

Not taking responsibility for her actions alone keeps me from voting for her. Add to that, she is in denial about her drinking causing her problems, or perhaps she truly believes that 50mph in a 30 zone is quite ok because it was late at night. Let's make room for the possiblity that we could have a better candidate--one who can actually represent what our leaders should be to our young people.

Venus Velazquez, do the crime, do the time! She needs to spend some time in jail, maybe then she will get it! She could of killed someone, she just doesn't get it. I will vote for Bruce Harrell, maybe she'll get that!!!

Perhaps rehab first, then public service.

No one is perfect,but bad judgement is bad judgement.

Will you be impared during the council meetings as well ?

What if every one behaved as you on our roads.

You are a text book adict,
Please get help.

She isn't sorry that she drank and drove; she's just sorry that she got caught. You would think that someone with 11 infractions in 13 years would learn. But, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

"It wasn't 50 mph Robert, the ticket was for 45"... cause we all know that weaving, crossing the centerline and running stop signs without insurance and a license are so much safer at 45.

Ron Sim's comment: I've never seen a proposition fail and not be replaced by a better one. That comment and my trust in the wisdom of Sierra Club wisdom ... I will vote NO!

VENUS VELAZQUEZ just keeps on giving and giving, spin that is! I'll be voting for BRUCE HARRELL, that's no spin! DAN BERGSTROM...

What a role model! Please don't get near my kids and wake up to what to what you are taching your kids. Stop rationalizing and go back to whatever else you were doing. You do not belong in public office. You are an embarassment to yourself and to us.

She is crazy. She is taking no responsibility for what she did. For her to actually say that she didn't endanger anyone because it was 11:30 at night and she didn't think she was impaired. Wow! I don't think that a DUI should be an end all be all, but for her it should be. She should not be an elected official. Everyone drunk person on Cops never thinks they had to much to drink. Of course they think they were fine, that's why they were driving drunk. Just admit to it.

She obviously has a problem with answering to authority, and a definite problem with decision-makingand remembering to do that which is required. Overall, she's showing a severe lack of common sense that she canot overcome with good looks. I know many police officers, though none that I know are supporting her campaign. She's obviously good at stetching the truth to fit the needs of her campaign. Run away, voters! Run away from Venus

Can anyone count,11 infractions of the law is what this sorry excuse has. I wouldn't vote for her if she was the last and only person alive. Who drives without their license too? She is a joke of the worst kind! Try this yourself and see where it lands you! SORRY.....you in jail now!

It's interesting that she thinks that this makes her more relatable to the public...I have been pulled over a total of three time...once not having proof of insurance. After that I have never forgotten to have the card in my wallet and the other in my car. I can't relate to her at all.

Sadly we live in times that allow individuals to justify
breaking the law while running for political office or holding important positions. Take Your Honor, Bobbe Bridge who remains on the bench after an accident under the influence; in which she attempted to flee the scene, and has set the standard for this behavior in the State. Elected officials such as Richard McIver and Jane Hague and political aspirants like Mike McGavrick and Venus Velasquez are not exempt from the law and should not believe that they are entitled to receive preferential treatment. Obviously Hague (what a politico, she kept her arrest out of the press, and arranged the legalities for after the election),Velasquez (has a hubby who is buddy buddy with the Mayor) and McGavrick (has enough money to rewrite his DUI history)have more juice than McIver (ouch! don't want to play the race card but...) who stayed in jail until there was a judge who did'nt know him so he could be arraigned. All jesting aside, none of these people at the end of the day can honestly believe that it is acceptable to batter or drink and drive. I guess George Orwell said it best,
"All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others".

Please have her tell my friend whose daughter was killed by someone exactly like her who had only a couple drinks how SORRY she is. Better yet bring her by my home and let her tell me, someone needs to smack the smirk off her sorry face!Not only VOTE NO,but her ilk should never be allowed on a ballot in our city or state!

VENUS VELAZQUEZ JUST KEEPS GIVING AND GIVING, SPIN THAT IS! SHE IS A JOKE WITH NO, NO COMMON SENSE! SHE THINKS WERE STUPID AND ARE GOING TO BUY HER BS. I'LL BE VOTING FOR BRUCE HARRELL, AND THAT'S NOT SPIN!
DAN BERGSTROM...

In friendly reply to Lisa at 10:18: You commented that Ms. Velazquez was "not even bright enough to have hired a PR consultant to devise a better strategy to field Mak's questions." Ah, but here's the payoff (and if you already know this, I apologize): believe it or not, Ms. Velazquez is a PR consultant in private life (i.e., it's her job)! In other words, she is a PR expert. I kid you not! As someone above said, sheesh!

To quote "There are none so blind that those who will not see"

Venus just keeps giving and giving, spin that is! She will never get it. She has no, no common sense. She says it was 11pm during her DUI, when does she think most people are killed by drunks! I would not vote for any drunk, period!!!

We don't need another drunk on the Seattle City Council, period!

Maybe if a drunk driver kills Venus' children then she'll realize the dangers of drinking and driving. For Venus to claim that she did not endanger lives is a good reason for voters to vote for her opponent

The State wants to make money by selling booze by the side of the road, they should have a window, say 8 to 10 PM so all the drunks can either get home or kill each other. Don't want to die, stay off the road between 8 and 10. Gentlemen synchronize your watches.

Venus peed on our legs and told us it was raining. What a loser.

After watching Robert Macks show this a.m. with Venus as his guest, I nearly got sick over her boasting how the fire and the police guilds are standing behind her! I have the highest regard for fire and police and I'm hoping they don't let her use their fine name with a person that would break the law and endanger other people.

Chappaquiddick has come to Ballard.

She clearly does not take responsibility for her actions. She still feels she was not intoxicated when stopped by the police for speeding, crossing the double yellow lines, and failing the breath test. I would never vote for her.

The DUI alone is not the issue, it is her blatant disregard for law and order and her inability to accept responsibility for her actions. Her arrogance is appalling to me. How can she sit there on TV and say on the one hand that she accepts responsibility for her actions and yet say she did not put other people’s lives in danger. She was crossing the YELLOW LINE! I think that would put someone on the other side of that line in danger. AND, she said it was 11:30 ….. so does that mean driving drunk is only dangerous during peak traffic periods? Is she serious? I can’t believe anyone can take her seriously. AND, if I decide to drive drunk, I hope the police support me and remember I just made a mistake in judgment as most people do in the world according to Venus.

Are you kidding me? She sat there trivializingher idiotic and irrisponsible behavior and now she wants us to support het both with a vote and our tax dollars,Heck NO!

Stick a fork in her...

She's done.

Wow... how many citations in 13yrs? No wonder Seattle is not run very well, she can't even remember to keep her drivers license in her purse, or insurance card in her car.

Why would Seattle voters vote in such a FLAKE?

I am a cab driver and Venus has no excuse for what she did. She could have called us. She is in total denial. I definitely will not vote for her. I drive alot of people who are very smart not to drive and ones that had to wise up after they got DUIs and people who have lost their license. Venus is not smart at all.

The DUI Up Front report by Robert Mak is one of the worst examples of bias reporting I have witness in this area. To hear every 30 minutes or so that the report is going to be aired later this evening and mentioning the Valazquez's name each time makes the station appear to be running a campaign to discredit this lady.

I wonder if one of your reporters faced similar charges would the station spend as much time on the issue.

I don't know the lady, but this type of reporting really turns me off.

this is the most pathetic responce to a serious arrest! she said she will continue to be flawed, we dont need damaged goods in charge of the city! if she makes poor judgement in her personal life, then she will carry that over to her professional life! getting arrested this time puts the icing on the cake, she cant follow the laws, with a track record to prove it!

i vote she never makes it to city council....

Unbeleivable! Im from Vancouver Canada and this has no effect on me whatsoever but what a laugh! This lady is a moron! What was she thinking doing an interview? That human mistake you made could have killed someone! She tries to make it sound like she didnt really do anything wrong and admits she drinks and drives all the time! Oh but its just wine with dinner. Hey Venus, it doesnt matter if its just wine! And you cant figure out after several fines and tickets to carry your insurance! Lol. You have enough trouble with day to day life taking care of yourself. Dont bother looking out for the other citizens of Seattle. I dont think they need your help!

It is sad that she apparently has not learned her lesson. Although she came across very straight forward and what appeared to be honest. She though has no conscience, and does not realize how lucky she has been.

A VOTE for her would be a vote for approving driving drunk. She is not on my voting ticket.

randy

I also see she has some freinds posting on here too actually defending her!!!??? Lol. U think we cant see through that? There is no defense to stupidity. Shes an idiot. Your her freind. Tell her not to do interviews! It was comical!

It really irks me that I go to great lengths to obey the laws, pay the ridiculous taxes imposed on citizens and bust my butt working nine hours a day just to witness another criminal, (repeat offender), trying to get into the Government system. Her actions are pathetic and no way should she be in a position of authority!!!

Nobody will ever have the ablity to make the decision for themselves after any alcohol consumption to say they were never drunk enough to hurt others as well as themselves.. not even the almighty Valazquez. What I and everybody else who has issues with her excuse would of preferred to see is.. Immediate action of "I have a problem, I need help," Then perhaps move on. Denial is unfortunately in this day and age.. an open book.

Venus' long standing lack of respect for the law is the real problem. The pattern of traffic violations and not carrying the proper documentation over a period of years indicates that speeding and driving impaired is not a one time occurance. The right message to send children would be to drop out of the race and admit that one has a problem with obeying the law and doesn't really qualify to be an elected official.

I would not vote for her. After looking at her review on TV, she admits to not following the simple law of putting her proof of insurance in her car, which means to me, she disrespects that law. I wonder what else she disrespects.

Most DWI people will say they drove fine, until something happens.

Those are my thoughts.

She would not get my vote.

To answer the other question: "Should she be allowed to run?"

Yes

Would I vote for her?

No

Thanks,

Steven

She said, "I did not endanger lives". Who is she trying to kid? Being impaired as proven by the breath test administered, of course SHE ENDANGERED LIVES all along the route she took. Alcohol will easily relax a mind to believe the feelings and words she said. All in all, she is half way to admit her mistakes ...just too many in the past too. With this in mind (and I've had no alcohol), she definitely would NOT get my vote. It would be a pleasure just to know Ms Velazquez were to read all these comments.

Respectfully,

Rich D.

She sounds like a flake. She cannot even carry insursnce papers in her car, she runs stop signs and can't keep her license in her purse... not to mention her speeding while drunk. Forget it, I would not vote for her. I can't even believe we are discussing this nonsense. How dare she says she has the support of the police and fire department. Lady I hope you don't represent us and our city. Stay home, pour a glass of wine (or two) and sit this one out.

It's not only the drunch driving, which is bad judgement, but it's the crap that came out of her mouth while getting interviewed on upfront. Denials, defensive on this and all the other past offenses. Not an ounce of remorse. Thumbs down for me and my wife

There is simply no excuse for this kind of thing. None. Any attempts to excuse her for her actions does us all a disservice. Spare our brain cells, please.

she said: "I am flawed and will continue to be flawed..."

Yeah, thats the #1 thing I look for in a political candidate with no track record.

Venus has no one to blame but herself for losing this election. I seriously think her PR business is down the toilet after this too.

Anyone who drives with a blood alcohol level of .12 is endangering a life. Of course this woman (and her defense attorney) will deny the validity of the test. While working in a prison for several years, most of the people I met who killed people while drinking and driving had the same arrogant mentality as Valesquez. I would expect someone who runs for office to be an upstanding member of the community, not one who is above the law. You are "flawed" Ms. Valesquez. May I suggest you start with a chemical dependency evaluation? Just make sure you tell the truth.

Did Robert Mak mention that she wasn't carrying her insurance card again when she was pulled over for the DUI? That would be no insurance card 6 times. Brilliant! Please, elect her to a public office and give her budget responsibility.

Why would anyone vote for a person who has no regard for the lives or safety of the citizens she wants to serve? The only thing she is sorry for is the fact that she got caught. I suppose if she were to injure or kill someone she would blame them for being in her way. I buried my 17 year old son because of an impaired driver. That driver had a .04 BAC and is serving a prison sentence for the violent crime (strike offence class A felony) of DUI Vehicular Homicide. I get to serve a life sentence without my child. She makes me sick....

I had been planning to vote for her.

Her interview with you helped me decide not to.

Her "drinks with dinner" locution was an obvious attempt to minimize and deflect--in Al-Anon they call that "denial." The way she blew off the additional citations was equally deceptive. 11 citations is a bit much.

Her only chance as far as I am concerned was to come completely clean. she didn't.

HRW

Thank goodness she's shown her true colors before getting into office.

Anytime someone gets behind the wheel of a car after drinking they are endangering others lives. How dare she give the excuse that "it was late at night". Tell that to the hundreds of people that get hit by drunk drivers every year during the overnight hours. Time is not the issue. Her ignorance is!

By today's standards it does not take much more then a whiff of the champagne cork to find yourself labeled as a drunk. The breathalyzer is an unfair way to determine the capabilities of a person. The proper test should be the physical reactions of the individual.

There has been a strong movement against alcohol, and tobacco, and putting bars out of business. This movement, is stealing the freedom of the American people. The dogooders even have the audacity to tell us what to eat, and demand that restaurants prepare food a certain way, and post costly nutritional information on their menu, even though few would bother to read it. Apparently, they won't rest until all bars are put out of business, and the only thing on grocery shelves will be rice cakes, tofu, sprouts, and colored water.

As for smoking, and worse, the product will be found on the street corner. Nobody seems to care about the real drugs that are destroying this country.

It is unfortunate that this lady, and all people who are treated like the dregs of society because they use alcohol, or tobacco, must face the destruction of their career. However, if enough politicians have to personally deal with the unfair laws being made, they will return the freedom that has been taken from the people.

For those who are not aware, if you refuse a blood, breath or urine, you are automatically assumed guilty.

For those of you who are defending her, why don't you tell the family members of those killed by D.U.I. drivers that it's no big deal and D.U.I. is just a circus, as described by skok.

I'm no angel and I've driven drunk, thank god I never killed or hurt myself or anyone else.

The D.U.I. arrest and/or conviction would not critically impact my choice on voting, however the fact that she is making excuses (i.e. it was late at night, so 50 is ok, right?) and refusing to accept any and all responsibility for her actions, would directly effect my decision to vote for her.

Fortunately I live in unincorporated county and don't have to worry about Seattle City politics.

Mike is a ignorant as he writes. Until he goes to a collision scene where two children and a mother is pronouced dead on scene. And the causing driver is going the wrong way on the road, or better example crossing the solid yellow line. The driver is also under the influence of any drug (to include ALCOHOL). Nearly 15,000 people lose their lives to impaired driver's every year. DUI's are epidemic.

Alcohol is categorized as a Central Nervious System Depressant (CNS Depressant)and the very first thing accohol affect is the ability to make sound decisions. Why do think we have laws on carrying weapons (GUNS)into establishments that serve alcohol.

People do make mistakes, its human nature, but with those mistakes comes respondsibility. Be an adult and admit when you are wrong and learn from those mistakes. It is not truely a mistake if you learn from it and ensure that others can learn from the same mistake. When you start making excuses you sound like my five year old.

And last before I leave, Mike grow up and move out of your mom and dads house.

Ok, so 11 infractions, and a DUI. Venus states that she is only "human". Umm, I don't know anyone who has that many infractions, let alone a DUI. Venus is obviously one of those drivers that you shake your head at daily. How can you possibly convince yourself that you did not endanger lives when you got behind the wheel and were over the legal limit. Your judgment is impaired, meaning that you cannot make the appropriate choice. Venus also states that she makes a lot of mistakes, and that she is human, and people make mistakes. Well answer me this, how many mistakes are you going to make as a city council member for Seattle?

One more thing, Venus is pretty much telling people that it is ok to make their own judgment as to whether they should drive or not after drinking. Also, almost every police officer out there will lower the speed that you were actually doing on the ticket. 50 in a 30 qualifies for a reckless driving ticket. The cop wrote it for 45 so that she would not get a reckless driving ticket. Venus knows what she did, and it is so blatently obvious that she is lying.

Gee, Michael, it sounds like you agreed with the comment I made about people making mistakes, but then screwed it up saying it wouldn’t really be a mistake if she learned from it!?? And, actually making excuses is human nature too, that’s why your five year old does it. I WAS suggesting she be considering a new line of work.
I would think at this point that Mr. Mac’s question could have been ‘Does a drunk driving arrest enrage people to not vote for a candidate for public office? I won’t vote for her, but that is too easy. If you want to ‘disqualify’ it will take a law or contractual morals clause. What THAT will take is for people to focus their energy on actually doing something about it, instead of being ‘mad as hell’ (which may only help keep you focused a little, but really won’t do anything else). Why doesn’t someone start a ‘Referendum’ to add a morals clause to all public officials public contract? Then we wouldn’t have to worry whether she was sorry or learned from it or anything? Plus we wouldn’t even have to vote her out.

This person is a bad risk for public office

I no longer live in Seattle, but I would not have voted for her based on her now owning up to the fact that she was driving 50 MPH in a 30 zone - doesn't matter how late, someone could have been crossing the street in the dark and WHAM.

Anyway, Robert Mak is awesome. Thanks for all the great news and analysis over the years.

Just say, "I don't recall." The laws are for the little people. And us insider public figures are special because we're equiped to make sound judgement calls when most common folk are not. -Pass the bottle, will ya'...

After all is said and done...This woman should be behind bars...I'm sure w/ her record it wasn't the first time that she drove drunk...CARELESS and what a shame...But do most politicians really have a conscience...I think not...She is in true denial and will do it again...How about tonite??? I just hope my daughter and grandchildren are safe @ home...