Medicine Hat mayor changes to guilty plea for drunk driving

CALGARY – The mayor of Medicine Hat, Alta. has changed his mind and pleaded guilty to last month’s charge of impaired driving.

READ MORE: Medicine Hat mayor charged with impaired driving

Mayor Ted Clugston apologized to citizens of the southeastern Alberta city in a statement Tuesday morning, and said his guilty plea goes against the advice of his lawyer.

“I am human and exercised very poor judgment for which I must take responsibility.  I am not above the law,” said the statement.

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“My legal counsel is convinced I have a good chance of acquittal; however, in order to save the two things I love most, my family and this city the embarrassment and humiliation of a public trial, I have made this difficult decision.”

Clugston said he has continued to work and attend public events and intends to “continue to do so” since the incident.

A trial date has been set for June 29.