OC Political

In the final story I will be running in the Peter Herzog saga he was convicted on Tuesday and although he did not end up receiving any jail time, this puts a major damper on any re-election chances that he may have had.

Lake Forest has recently had a trend of tossing out incumbents over the past two elections with Richard Dixon, and Marcia Rudolph both losing in re-election bids. Mark Tettemer who was the third Councilmember to leave over the past couple of elections chose to leave.

We will have to see what happens in the upcoming election and who jumps in.

Here is the press release from the office of the Orange County DA.

LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CONVICTED OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

NEWPORT BEACH – A Lake Forest City Council member was convicted and sentenced for driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content of .18 percent, more than twice the legal limit. Peter Alan Herzog, 57, Lake Forest, pleaded no contest on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, to one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more. Herzog was sentenced to first time standard minimum DUI probations of three years of informal probation, fines, and required to participate in a 3-month first offender alcohol program.

At approximately 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2012, Herzog made a left turn from Portola Parkway onto Lake Forest Drive and drove on the wrong side of the road. Herzog drove over the center median to get back on to the westbound lanes. Herzog then made a wide left turn from Lake Forest Drive onto Regency Lane and hit the right side of the curb. Herzog crossed into the opposing lane of traffic and swerved back and forth across lanes until he arrived at his home.

Motorists reported the driving to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, who investigated this case, and arrested Herzog at his home. Herzog displayed objective signs of intoxication including bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, a strong odor of alcohol, and unsteady balance. At approximately 10:30 p.m., Herzog had a blood alcohol content of .18 percent.