Candidate for Cape council twice pleaded guilty to DWI in '03, '04

Cape Girardeau City Council candidate Trent Summers twice pleaded guilty to driving-while-intoxicated charges over an eight-month span in 2003 and 2004 while the then-24-year-old worked as an elections specialist with the Missouri secretary of state's office.

On Thursday, Summers acknowledged the incidents as careless decisions that he regrets. But he added that he has since turned his life around and believes he can still make meaningful contributions as a council member.

"The fact of the matter is I made a mistake a number of years ago," Summers said. "I made some very careless decisions, and I'm grateful no one was injured as a result of those."

When asked if his issues with alcohol were behind him, Summers answered: "Definitely, without a doubt." Today, Summers said, he never drinks and drives.

Summers, an account executive with Red Letter Communications, will likely face Southeast Missouri State University instructor Ellen Dillon in the April 3 election to see who will claim the Ward 3 seat being vacated by Debra Tracy.

Ellen Dillon

The information came to light after a routine Southeast Missourian background check of both candidates. A search into Dillon's background showed no arrests in Missouri.

In August 2003, Summers pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated from a June 28 arrest in Liberty, Mo. Eight months later, he was arrested again for DWI in Cole County while he lived in Jefferson City.

In the second arrest, Summers was pulled over by police at about 2 a.m. Feb. 20, 2004, according to court documents obtained from the Cole County Circuit Clerk's office.

A probable-cause statement filed by the arresting officer says Summers was stopped for driving 72 mph in a 65 mph zone. But the officer noticed the smell of alcohol on Summers' breath, the records say, and his blood alcohol content was later determined to be 0.183, more than twice the legal limit. Summers also failed all six portions of the field-sobriety test.

As a prior offender, Summers was sentenced to 10 days of house arrest and two years of unsupervised probation that required an ignition interlock device. He also was required to attend the state's Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program and a Mothers Against Drunk Driving victim impact panel.

The court records note that Summers met all of the conditions of his probation without incident and that he completed all of the requirements on time.

When Summers, now 32, was considering a run for city council, his DWI history was a factor, he said. He knew it was possible that his past would be made public, though he still opted to run because he believes he can contribute to the community as a member of the city council.

"I have talents and experiences that I can contribute," Summers said. "I'm just putting those before voters, and it's obviously their choice to make."

For her part, Dillon said that if Summers has turned his life around, she doesn't think that part of his past should be relevant to voters.

"I think it's unfortunate," she said. "You don't want to get behind the wheel if you've been drinking. That puts you and other people at risk. ... But if he's been forthcoming and honest about it, who am I to judge? Everybody makes mistakes."

Summers is married to Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers, who normally certifies nominating petition signatures in city council races. But she has given those duties to another office member to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642