Council candidate charged for DUI, apologizes for incident

Seattle City Council candidate Venus Velázquez was charged this afternoon in Seattle Municipal Court for driving under the influence. She is scheduled to appear in court on Saturday.

Police arrested Velázquez on Northwest Market Street in Ballard at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving.

The race between Velázquez, a public-affairs consultant, and attorney Bruce Harrell to replace Peter Steinbrueck in Position 3 has been among the city's most competitive.

At a West Seattle forum Thursday night, Velázquez talked about the incident 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 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.

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