POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Perdue campaign manager charged with DUI

Gov. Sonny Perdue’s campaign manager, 24-year-old Nick Ayers, was arrested in Atlanta this week and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to maintain his lane.

According to the the Georgia State Patrol: On Wednesday, a few minutes before 11 p.m., a trooper spotted Ayers driving a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe down East Paces Ferry Road through light traffic at about 50 mph. He was traveling outside of his lane in a 35 mph speed zone. The trooper followed Ayers into a parking lot, where his Tahoe briefly sped up.

“The Tahoe almost struck another vehicle in the parking lot,” the trooper wrote in his report. “It appeared as if the Tahoe was attempting to hide.”

After the trooper, J.W. Rickett, stopped Ayers, he reported smelling alcohol. Ayers told Rickett he had consumed “a strong Jack (Daniels) and Coke.” His eyes were watery and bloodshot, but he was polite, appeared neat and his speech was normal, Rickett reported.

The trooper had Ayers complete three field sobriety tests, then arrested him.

Ayers refused to take a breathalyzer test, and Rickett took him to the Atlanta city jail. There, Ayers again refused to take a breath test.

Perdue is aware of the matter, campaign spokesman Derrick Dickey said. The arrest will not affect his campaign position, he said.

“Nick deeply regrets this incident,” Dickey said. “We’re certain that the process afforded all Georgia citizens will run its course. We consider it a personal matter.”

Interesting look at those who championed forced blood draws using the right to refuse a breath test. DUI/Constitutional Rights are worth more than cheap political capital to gain the favor of special interests groups. Perhaps Governor Perdue will more thoughtfully consider throwing cherished Constitutional rights out the window to appease special interest groups. If its good enough for the Governor’s top aide its good enough for ordinary citizens.

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