Redland City Mayor, Karen Williams, was this morning hit with a high-range drink driving charge after returning an alleged blood alcohol reading of 0.177% – more than three times the legal limit.
The charge follows a car accident involving the Mayor in her Council-owned Lexus on 23 June. The Mayor (pictured) later told media she had consumed several glasses of wine at a post-Budget celebration on Council premises prior to getting behind the wheel.
“Police attended the intersection of Queen and Wellington Streets at around 9pm following a minor single vehicle crash where a Lexus station wagon left the road, travelled through a fence and struck a tree,” Queensland Police said in a statement today.
“The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, a 55-year-old woman, was not seriously injured in the crash and was transported to hospital for further assessment.”
The community chorus calling for her sacking continues to grow louder, with a petition demanding her dismissal as Mayor now signed by more than 5,000 people.
Earlier today, Local Government Minister, Steven Miles said Mayor Williams should stand aside until the matter is finalised in court.
“She has done the wrong thing, she has been caught doing the wrong thing, in the very least she should step aside,” Mr Miles told the ABC.
“I think the mayor should consider what her community would think and I think her community would be saying her position now is untenable and she should make the right decision and resign.”
Mr Miles said he has asked his department for further advice on his available powers to dismiss the mayor given the seriousness of the charge she is facing.
She is due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on 1 August.
