Councilmen Supportive Of Kelly
Suggest He Needs Help

By JOHN W. SIMMS
Special to the Chronicle

Members of the council voiced support for City Councilman Ronald “Skip” Kelly (Ward 7), called upon the public to be supportive, too, and suggested he seek help after his second DUI arrest in three years.
Councilmen Ed Shadid (Ward 2) and Pete White (Ward 4) suggested at this week’s council meeting that Councilman Kelly has a problem with alcohol and should get treatment, and both called on their colleagues and the public to support the Ward 7 councilman.
Councilman Kelly was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
Councilmen David Greenwell (Ward 5 and Patrick J. Ryan (Ward 8), and Councilwoman Meg Salyer (Ward 6) joined Councilmen White and Shadid in expressing support for Councilman Kelly.
Councilmen Gary Marrs (Ward 1) and Larry McAtee (Ward 3) and Mayor Mick Cornett didn’t comment on the arrest.
Councilman Kelly attended the first council meeting following his driving under the influence arrest in 2009, and he apologized for being “the subject of an unfortunate incident” before pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.
Councilmen Shadid and White spoke with some emotion during Tuesday’s meeting to ask the community to support the Ward 7 councilman.
“Much of the public does not understand the magnitude or the nature of these problems….[and some] do not understand how commonplace this is and how it is affecting all of us,” Councilman Shadid said.
“I have seen exceptional courage and bravery on ‘Skip’ Kelly’s part in the last few days,” Councilman Shadid continued.
“I’m very proud to call him my friend, and I’m very proud of him….He’s been very high-functioning, in my opinion, with one arm tied behind his back.
“I’d like to see what happens in the future when he has an even playing field.”
Councilman White, who is a friend of the Ward 7 councilman and has worked to help others with substance abuse problems, sighed deeply as his voice broke while discussing Councilman Kelly’s situation.
“I think ‘Skip’s’ going to need all the help we can possibly give him,” Councilman White said.
Councilman Ryan challenged the effectiveness of the sobriety test administered to Councilman Kelly after his crash Friday.
The officer moved a finger across the councilman’s field of vision  to test if he was able to track the finger without moving his head, and police reported Councilman Kelly failed to do so until the officer repeated the instructions several times.
“It seemed like that was a pretty weak test,” Councilman Ryan said.  “Maybe it’s not.  Maybe statistically it’s valid.”
Chief of Police Bill Citty said he is confident in the effectiveness and necessity of the various sobriety tests administered by officers, but that police also look for other clues that a driver is intoxicated.
The arresting officer said he smelled alcohol from the councilman’s car, that his speech was slurred, that he swerved when he walked, and his eyes were watery and red.
Councilman Kelly has said he was not intoxicated, had had only one or two glasses of wine before the crash and had attempted to avoid another car that almost hit him.