HomeMy WebLinkAboutUndated Orlando Sentinel Article Commission Candidate DUI Articlew
Candidate
has DUI
charge
on record
^ The Winter Springs
political newcomer also
has a residency problem
that she must overcome.
By Will Wellons
OF THE SENTINEL STAFF
WINTER SPRINGS -Apolitical
newcomer running for the City
Commission was charged with
drunken driving in South Florida al-
most three years ago, arrest records
show
Melissa Zilka, 31, whose candida-
cy has already drawn scrutiny be.
cause she may not have lived in the
city long enough to run for office,
was charged by Broward County
deputies with DUI in 1996.
Her blood-alcohol level was 0.175,
more than twice the legal limit of
0.08.
According to the arrest report,
Zilka told police she had been drink-
ing because her grandmother died.
Zilka pleaded guilty and served pro-
bation and community service.
"It was a very bad decision. It was
a humiliating time," she said
Wednesday. ,She was on her way
home from a high school reunion at
the time.
In 1998, she was arrested again
for failure to pay $2,004 in connec-
tion with her divorce case. She was
released after making the payment,
a Broward County sheriff's spokes-
man said.
The former Pompano Beach resi-
dent signed up at the last minute in
September to run against City Com-
missioner Cindy Gennell. Zilka was
urged to run by political activist Ha-
rold Scott, who is president of the
People for Good Government politi-
calaction committee.
On Wednesday, Scott seemed
stunned by Zilka's background and
distanced himself from her candida-
ey.
"I am not running Melissa's cam-
paign," he said.
Although the DUT charges and
other legal problems are a blemish,
Zilka's residency question could
knock her from the ballot if sorrie-
one challenges the election.
The Winter Springs City Com-
mission has asked her to provide
proof of residency. Commission
members are expected to discuss
the issue at Monday's meeting.
Zi1ka, a representative for an
electronic components manufactur-
er, said she moved to Winter Springs
from Pompano just shy of two years
ago, but did not change her drivers
City Commission looks
at the residen
DUI from D-1
license until March because she
was commuting to work each
week. During that time, she said,
she lived with her sister in Winter
Springs. For much of that time,
she said, she continued to receive
mail at her Pompano address.
"I can have a legal residence,
but I don't have to reside there,"
she said.
Zilka said she does not have
any documentation to prove that
she lived in the city before Febru-
ary, but that she is asking neigh-
bors to sign affidavits stating that
she has lived in the city for over a
year. She said Wednesday that she
plans to turn those affidavits in to-
day.
"It's a big hindrance to the
cy question '
campaign;' she said;
It is unclear, what - if any-
thing -the city can do ii' it is de-
termined that she is not qualified.
Outgoing City Attorney Bob Guth-
rie told commissioners lust week
that any challenge to the candida-
cy would probably have to come
from an outside party,
Gennell said she is t~;ying to fo-
cus on her campaign, adding that
she is looking to the City Commis-
sion to keep the city elections
within the rules.
"The burden is on the City
Commission to protect the char-
ter," Gennell said. "I have faith
that they will make the right deci-
sion."
Sentinel correspondent Steve
Barnes contributed to this nepm-t-
Please see DtJI, D-5