Businessman John Pezold announses candidacy against State Rep. Kip Smith (R-Columbus).
State Rep. Kip Smith (R-Columbus)
ATLANTA - A lot of politicians under Georgia's Gold Dome try to make a name for themselves by making headlines.
One type of fame most try to avoid is getting busted for DUI the first week of the legislative session.
It happened to State Rep. Kip Smith (R-Columbus) early last Friday morning after he drove away from a Buckhead restaurant.
An Atlanta Police officer pulled him over after Smith allegedly ran a red light.
The officer said Smith identified himself as a State Representative, smelled of alcohol and seemed watery-eyed.
In his report, the officer said Smith first denied drinking any alcohol, then admitted to having a single beer.
He wrote that Smith failed several field sobriety tests and blew a .10 on a breathalyzer.
The legal limit for intoxication in Georgia is .08.
According to the officer, Smith was "polite and respectful" and admitted he'd been "incredibly irresponsible".
Smith has been in the State House for three years, winning a special election in 2009 when his father, Vance Smith, left the seat to become Georgia's DOT Commissioner.
On Wednesday, the young politician picked up a challenger for next summer's Republican Primary.
Columbus businessman John Pezold announced his candidacy at several stops in a district that includes parts of Harris, Muscogee and Troup Counties.
The former staffer for former Georgia Congressman Mac Collins had intended to run anyway, but moved up his announcement.
He didn't discuss Rep. Smith's DUI, but instead concentrated on his experience as the owner of several McDonald's Restaurants.
"I've got experience leading a team every day at work and one of the facts of business is you have to live within your means and you have to meet a budget," Pezold our sister station, WLTZ-TV.
So far, Rep. Smith has not responded to requests from 11Alive News for any comment on his DUI arrest.
Instead, he sent us an email touting his record, adding he intends to talk more about that record "on the campaign trail this summer".
Smith is not the first, and probably won't be the last legislator charged with DUI.
House Speaker David Ralston's office would not comment on the arrest because the case has not yet been settled in court.