Ex-Murrieta Mayor Facing Felony DUI Re-Elected To City Council
MURRIETA (CBSLA.com) — Voters have elected the former mayor of the city of Murrieta - who resigned last month after being arrested on suspicion of felony DUI following a crash that injured four teenagers - to a City Council seat.
Alan Long, 44, was one of the top three finishers in Tuesday's nine-way race for three council seats.
The longtime Murrieta firefighter was charged last week with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, according to the Riverside County district attorney's office.
In his campaign statement, Long emphasized more fiscal responsibility and better efforts to ensure a "high quality of life" for Murrieta residents.
"Public safety, jobs, open space, quality development and maintaining a caring and connected community will continue to be my top priorities," he said.
Long stepped down as mayor in the wake of the Oct. 16, 2014, crash that sent four girls, ages 14 to 17, to the hospital. The accident occurred around 8:15 p.m. at the intersection of Jefferson and Lily avenues.
Authorities said Long was taken into custody at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence.
"The investigation revealed that Long's blood alcohol content the night of the injury crash was 0.08 percent, which is the limit California law presumes a driver to be impaired," the D.A.'s office said in a written statement.
During his resignation speech, Long maintained his innocence but stated, "I do want to express once again my concern for the well-being of those injured in the accident and how sorry I am that they got hurt."
Long is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 11. If convicted of any felony, Long would be ineligible to hold public office.
In addition to Long, Councilman Rick Gibbs was re-elected to a third term, while small business owner Jonathan Ingram claimed the third seat, edging out Murrieta's transportation finance director, Ruthanne Taylor-Berger.
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