Outgoing Harford County Council President Robert Wagner used his final meeting Tuesday after 16 years of service to apologize for his DUI arrest the day before.
“From the depths of my heart and soul, I regret the events that occurred yesterday,” Wagner said Tuesday night. “I also hope that everyone focuses on the good works this council has done and completed over the last four years together.”
It was the last and only mention of the arrest. Wagner swiftly left the council meeting upon its adjournment and gave no further comment.
Shortly before 11 a.m. Monday, Wagner was arrested in the parking lot of a Rock Spring assisted living facility with a blood alcohol concentration of .21, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence.
Tuesday?s meeting marked the last for Wagner, who was ending 16 consecutive years on the county council after losing the Republican primary to Billy Boniface.
Wagner joined council members Lance Miller and Cecilia Stepp in bidding a final farewell to the chamber ? neither Miller nor Stepp were seeking re-election, while Councilman Robert Cassilly is in Iraq serving in the Army reserve and could not file for re-election.
“Between the four of them, that?s 36 years of service on this council … that?s a lot to replace,” said Councilman Dion Guthrie, who called for a round of applause for the outgoing council.
“It?s easy for people to ridicule and talk about elected officials … it?s hard to understand what we go through,” Bel Air Mayor Terence Hanley said in a speech thanking the council. “We don?t make bad decisions intentionally. This is a job where you can go from a hero to a zero in one vote, and we?ve all been there. But I commend you for your service to this community.”
