Columbus Grove mayor guilty of driving drunk to seek 3rd term

7/27/2007

COLUMBUS GROVE, Ohio - Despite his recent conviction for drunken driving, Columbus Grove Mayor Michael Bogart is seeking re-election to a third term.

Mr. Bogart filed a declaration of intent to run for mayor as a write-in candidate with the Putnam County Board of Elections earlier this month.

Village Councilman R. Kenneth Wright also is running as a write-in candidate, and two independents - Matt Douglas and James R. Karcher - are running for mayor, according to the board of elections.

Mr. Bogart, 50, pleaded no contest and was found guilty of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and resisting arrest in May.

He was placed on probation but ordered to serve out a 30-day jail term in June after he failed an alcohol breath test at his place of employment and then drove off. His operator's license also was suspended for one year.

Village Council agreed to ask for his resignation, but he declined to resign and filed to run for a third term as a write-in.

Mr. Bogart, who ran as an independent mayoral candidate in 1999 and 2003, could not be reached for comment.