DUI becomes campaign issue in solicitor race

07/13/2006 — Jonathon Aurelia says his opponent in the solicitor race, Rosanna Szabo, is soft on crime. But Szabo says she finds that an odd argument coming from a man who has a record of driving under the influence.

Aurelia was arrested in June of 1994, when he was 19, for driving while intoxicated, according to records. He pleaded nolo contendre, or no contest, to the top charge and a charge of minor in possession of alcohol was dropped, the records show.

Aurelia said he completed 20 hours of community service and a risk reduction program, although those are not listed on the paperwork.
“I took responsibility for it, and I want to make sure other people do,” he said.

Aurelia said he completed his sentence, graduated from college and law school and went on to prosecute DUI offenders. He even said he was an expert on DUI law and was one of the first prosecutors to take a course on the instrument now used for breath tests.

He said he didn’t consider the requirements a “light sentence,” but said that mandatory minimums have been raised since then.
On his Web site, Aurelia lists “stronger, more consistent DUI convictions” as part of his plan for the post.

“He just keeps talking about needing to be tough on young offenders,” Szabo said. “I think his personal experience bears on his argument.”

Szabo said she’s known about the conviction since Aurelia was hired to the county solicitor’s office in 1999, which was unusual for anyone with a criminal record.

She said she decided to come forward with the information because she “felt like she was withholding something.”

“It’s a credibility issue,” she said. “It’s a DUI prosecutor and it’s a DUI. It’s worthy of being out there for people to consider.”

Aurelia said he was surprised that it took so long for the information to surface, but he said he’s served his sentence and he is harder on crime than his opponent.

“You’ve got to draw the line somewhere,” he said. “We just draw it different places.”

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