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| Robert Mecklenborg |
So, will he be on the state sex offender registry?
07/17/2011
By Darrel Rowland
An embattled Cincinnati-area state representative quit this afternoon, caught up in controversy after being arrested for drunken driving in Indiana with a stripper in his car and Viagra
in his system.By making his resignation effective Aug. 2, Robert Mecklenborg, R-Green Township, ensured himself that he will be paid for all of July; if he had quit this month his legislative salary would have been pro-rated.
"My recent actions have become a distraction to the additional important work that lies ahead for the members of the 129th General Assembly. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I resign from the Ohio House of Representatives," he said in a statement today.
"Most importantly, I want to sincerely apologize for any pain and embarrassment I have caused my family, my constituents, and my colleagues. I will be forever grateful to the many constituents and colleagues who have urged me to stay, but I believe it is in the best interests of my family and my constituents to step aside during this difficult time."
His resignation letter to House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, was a mere two sentences.
Batchelder, who indicated late last week that the resignation was only a matter of time, said in a statement, "Bob has admitted his mistakes and, while difficult, I believe he has made the appropriate decision to step down as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives."
The House's No. 2 GOP leader, Lou Blessing of Cincinnati, said in the same statement: "As a friend and fellow member from Hamilton County, I believe Bob Mecklenborg has provided valuable insight on a number of legislative issues over the years. His service will be missed but I am pleased that he has appropriately decided to put the interests of his family and constituents first by stepping down from the Ohio House."
Mecklenborg was chairman of the House State Government and Elections Committee and sponsored a controversial bill that would require Ohioans to provided a photo ID before being allowed to vote. He also belonged to the Judiciary and Ethics Committee.
The latest blow against the GOP representative came last week when it was learned that four days after he was charged with DUI, Mecklenborg signed a driver's-license application in Ohio saying that he did not have any outstanding vehicle citations. Mecklenborg, 59, had an expired driver's license when he was pulled over by an Indiana state trooper April 23.
A three-term legislator who did not attend last week's House session, has pleaded not guilty to DUI and is scheduled to appear in court July 26. A dashboard camera video showed him repeatedly telling the trooper that he had not had anything to drink, even as he failed three field sobriety tests.
