Seattle council candidate Velázquez facing DUI charge

Seattle City Council candidate Venus Velázquez acknowledged using bad judgment when she chose to drive after having drinks with dinner Wednesday night.

Seattle police arrested Velázquez on Northwest Market Street at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving, an incident almost certain to impact her campaign less than three weeks before the election.

The race between public-affairs consultant Velázquez and attorney Bruce Harrell to replace Peter Steinbrueck has been among the city's most competitive.

At a West Seattle forum Thursday night, Velázquez opened by talking about the incident. She teared up and said she hoped voters would judge her by the entirety of her record.

A police report released Thursday said Velázquez's car was traveling 50 mph in a 30-mph zone and crossed the center line, according to a police report. After pulling her over, an officer noticed signs of intoxication, the report said.

Velázquez said Thursday she had had two drinks at a restaurant after a candidate forum in Sunset Hill ended at 8:30 p.m.

"I made a bad call, it was a judgment call," said Velázquez, 41.

In a statement she issued Thursday evening, she apologized to "the people of Seattle, my family, my friends and all of my supporters. I am more sorry about this incident than I can express in words. I have devoted much of my life to public service — and most of the year to my campaign for Seattle City Council ... I remain hopeful that I will have the opportunity to serve the voters and the city of Seattle."

The election is Nov. 6. Absentee ballots are being mailed this week.

Velázquez said Thursday she felt fine to drive home Wednesday night after leaving BalMar restaurant and bar. She declined to say what kind of drinks she'd had. A campaign staffer was riding with her, and Velázquez said she felt the staffer had drunk too much to be driving.

"I had two drinks with dinner; I am a small woman, I'm 5 foot 2," she said. "I believe I was not impaired. I wouldn't have driven if I believed I was impaired. I wouldn't jeopardize my safety or other people's safety."

According to police, radar in the patrol car registered Velázquez going 20 mph over the speed limit on Northwest Market Street near 22nd Avenue Northwest. The officer wrote in the report that he then saw Velázquez's Volvo station wagon cross the center line after she passed Ballard Avenue Northwest.

The officer turned his car around, followed Velázquez going 45 mph, and saw her drifting side to side within her lane, according to the report. He pulled her over east of 15th Avenue Northwest.

Velázquez said she recalls saying yes when the officer asked if she had been drinking.

According to the police report, she did not have her driver's license with her, so the officer verified on his mobile computer that she was licensed to drive. When the officer returned to Velázquez's car, he noticed a "strong minty smell" on her breath, which made him suspect she was trying to cover up the smell of alcohol.

He gave her a field sobriety test, including a balance test, eye test and breath test. The Police Department did not disclose the results of the breath test, saying it could be used as evidence. The department also declined to release the full 13-page police report, providing only the four-page incident narrative.

After the tests, the officer arrested Velázquez and took her to the West Precinct, where she refused to take a breath test on the equipment at the station. She was cited for driving under the influence and two traffic violations, and released around 12:40 a.m., when a police officer drove her home.

Because she refused the breath test at the station, Velázquez's license could be suspended for a year after a hearing with the state Department of Licensing. She still has her license but says she is not driving.

The case has been sent to the City Attorney's Office. Velázquez said she did not know how she might plead Saturday, when an appearance is scheduled in Municipal Court.

Earlier this year, King County Councilwoman Jane Hague was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She has pleaded not guilty. In that case, state troopers said the Bellevue councilmember was sarcastic and irate while in police custody.

Hague, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Richard Pope in District 6.

City Councilmember Richard McIver, who is not up for election this year, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to fourth-degree domestic-violence assault. According to charging documents, McIver grabbed his wife by the throat three times during an altercation last week. He told police he had been drinking, the documents say.

Velázquez said Thursday that her driving record was relatively clean. "I don't even have a speeding ticket."

Reminded that according to court records, she was cited for speeding in Seattle in 1995, Velázquez responded, "Well, that was a long time ago."

The Seattle Police Officers' Guild, which has endorsed her candidacy, said the arrest will not affect its support for Velázquez.

"There's no excuse for it, but it is for most people a momentary lapse in judgment," said Sgt. Rich O'Neill, president of the guild. "I don't think it is a reflection on her stance on the issues, which was the reason we endorsed her."

Councilmember Steinbrueck, who also has endorsed Velázquez, could not be reached for comment.

The race to replace Steinbrueck has been heated, with Velázquez raising $176,300 and Harrell raising $208,700. A week ago, Velázquez won a significant financial boost after a pro-business political-action committee, Forward Seattle, spent more than $56,000 to support her campaign.

Forward Seattle did not return calls.

Harrell said, "My prayers are with her family. It's an unfortunate situation. I'm going to remain focused on my platform."

The Seattle Times was alerted to the incident when Harrell called the newspaper Thursday morning to say he had heard unsubstantiated rumors of an arrest and wondered if they were true.

Velázquez praised the work of the officer who arrested her. "The police officer who stopped me was incredibly professional and respectful and treated me fairly and well," she said.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com