Morinelli to take time off
Says she has had some treatment for problem
By David Slade
Charleston City Councilwoman Deborah Morinelli, who was charged with drunken driving following an accident Friday afternoon, said Monday she plans to take a month off from her official duties.
"I'm still going to stay on City Council," said Morinelli, 54, who represents a portion of West Ashley. "I'll step off for about a month."
Deborah Morinelli
Mayor Joe Riley, who recruited Morinelli to run for council eight years ago, and Councilman Larry Shirley, who works closely with Morinelli on West Ashley issues, both said they hope she'll get the help she needs.
"I care about her and don't want to see her hurt herself or someone else," Shirley said.
Morinelli, noting her upcoming court hearing on the DUI charge, said she had spoken with a friend who is an attorney and was not allowed to answer questions about alcohol use but also said she was on her way to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
"I've already had some treatment, and I've had some time off," she said. "I've been dealing with this crap for two years."
Morinelli has said she was at an AA meeting Friday before the accident in which she was charged with drunken driving.
She also was in a wreck Thursday, according to a police report, when her Jeep struck a pickup truck that was stopped at a red light on Wappoo Road at Savannah Highway. No one was injured in that incident, there was minor damage to both vehicles, and no charges were filed, according to the report.
Previous story
Official blames 2nd car; Councilwoman faces DUI charge, says other vehicle caused crash, published 06/28/09
Riley said that he had a "frank, but loving, conversation with her" Saturday after the drunken driving arrest and her release from the county detention center.
The mayor and Shirley said members of council and city staff would handle constituent issues in Morinelli's district during her time off. Similar arrangements were made when other council members needed time off, such as when Councilman Jimmy Gallant was recovering from a heart attack and when Councilman Louis Waring was recovering from a car accident.
Riley said he'd been aware for about a month that Morinelli was having some problems.
Shirley drove her to and from the last council meeting, June 16, but said he didn't realize the extent of Morinelli's condition until the incident Friday.
At 1:30 p.m. Friday, Morinelli's Jeep went off the road and into a ditch at Plainview and Ashley River roads, not far from her home. No one was injured, and Morinelli told reporters in the days that followed that another car had run her off the road.
"If I didn't do what I did, we both would have been killed," she reiterated Monday.
A police report said Morinelli smelled of alcohol, had an open bottle of wine in her purse and attempted to stay seated on the ground but kept falling over onto her back. She was taken to Medical University Hospital "due to her inability to reason," according to the report, and lit a cigarette in her hospital room and repeatedly asked where her car was.
She spent the night in the Charleston County Detention Center and was released Saturday on a personal recognizance bond, as is common with those charged with misdemeanor first-offense DUI.
"If she's able to lick this thing, I think she'll still be a fine councilwoman," Shirley said.
Morinelli's council seat is up for election in November. She previously had said she didn't plan to seek re-election and confirmed Monday that she doesn't plan to run.
Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
malthus (anonymous) says...
That's sweet, If I was the one driving drunk, my job would have been gone before the cruiser pulled into 3841 Leeds Avenue. Automatic termination, she gets a PR bond and a month long vacation, with pay I assume.
June 30, 2009 at 3:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChasMagnolia (anonymous) says...
Was she coming or going to AA? Was she drunk at the scene of the other accident at Wappoo and Savannah Hwy.? Just one month - she has been out of control for a long time. Ask some of her neighbors.
June 30, 2009 at 5:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
issuetaker (anonymous) says...
Somebody voted for her.
June 30, 2009 at 5:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GAL2000 (anonymous) says...
Another "protected" Riley Kron! Take responsibility lady, you were drinking, and even if lets say that the other driver was at fault, you were still DUI...get it!
June 30, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
louieabaker (anonymous) says...
Once again "Little Black Joe" shows his liberal self. Never admit guilt, blame others, and show compassion. How pathetic!
June 30, 2009 at 6:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
The "good old boy" (or gal) system is alive and well...
June 30, 2009 at 6:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
1963 (anonymous) says...
That picture in this article sure looks better then her mug shot.
June 30, 2009 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
What is it with these politicians in SC. I'll tell you part of it. They have no fear of us, the electorate. They do not have to resign. We will vote them right back in. They face no consequences for bad behavior. They laugh at us all the way to the bank.
June 30, 2009 at 7:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MisWesaMoves (anonymous) says...
*Malthus* I'm right there with you...A little over 4 years ago, I was hungover and "coming down" one morning and when I drove around a cop, into the median to catch the green turn arrow and was pulled over for Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road. Because I had a Suspended License and other issues, I was arrested and "chauffered" to the "Leeds Avenue Hilton" for a 4 night, 5 day stay as a "Guest" of Charleston County. No PR bond, lost my job, lost the respect of family and friends, etc. The good thing that came out of it was that it was a "wake up call" and I took "a month off" and got myself into treatment. I still regularly "go to meetings" and I can tell you that if you HONESTLY want to CHANGE, the meetings help. If not then you WILL go on to the "bitter ends...jails, institutions or death." Hmmm...a month off...Just enough time to enter a 30 day treatment program. Let's hope she does for her sake and everyone else's.
June 30, 2009 at 7:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeg111 (anonymous) says...
And the the citizens are paying for all of this absurd behavior. She needs to resign and stop using tax payers money to get drunk!!
June 30, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nopartisan_noproblem (anonymous) says...
Yesterday Riley blasted Sanford and asked for a resignation due to infidelity and distractions from work, but he supports someone putting others lives at risk with two car wrecks a day apart. Moral dilemma I guess.
June 30, 2009 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
Wonder if the AA meeting was at the local watering hole?
RESIGN! You are an embarrassment!
June 30, 2009 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Where can I get a job like that, lunch time drinks, DUI, keep job...what a job.
Riley, what a hypocrite, in the same mold as any crooked politician. Working to keep himself in power.
Sanford isn't the only reason this hick state is considered a joke and embarrassment.
June 30, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mattcofc (anonymous) says...
Maybe Teddy Kennedy could maintain her council seat in a caretaker role until she is ready to return but I have to admit, its hard to make it to meetings on time if you can't drive. Who knows maybe they will install one of the machines that you have to blow into to start the car.
June 30, 2009 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
This is just another example of Riley supporting an incompetent person instead of removing them and replacing them with someone that does the job right. The last time he did that, 9 fire fighters lost their lives.
Drunk driving should be treated as attempted murder. If someone dies as a result of the drunk driving, the charge should be murder.
June 30, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
It is sad to inform you that the site staff has chosen to silence HAROLD REEMS on these boards. His unique style of posting will be sorely missed!
June 30, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
ysillyme: Don't worry...he'll be back with another screen name...
June 30, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Clemsurf (anonymous) says...
"If she's able to lick this thing....."
In the words of Borat, "Very nice!"
June 30, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rgsno (anonymous) says...
Joe (Bushy Eyebrows)Riley how come you are supporting this woman? When Mr. Cambel got intruoble you called for his resignation. Bushy you are a hipocrit! Go ahead and retire. You have reigned enough King Joe!
June 30, 2009 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
firefightersforthetruth (anonymous) says...
It just shows that in Charleston it is still the good old boy system at it's worst! KILL NINE MEN AND RETIRE WITH A GIFT OF A NEW TRUCK AND CLOTHS FROM BERLINS!!! When will the people of Charleston realize that Joe runs Charleston as a kingdom not a democratic city!
I am truly sorry for Miss Morinelie, it is an addiction, and must be worked on every day. We all have our demons!
Joe's is he thinks he is king! Someone needs to put an end to this type of favoritism and nepotism. Keep it up Joe, your days as mayor are numbered!
June 30, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nopartisan_noproblem (anonymous) says...
ColdBud you cannot call something attempted murder, unless they are attempting to murder someone. The same result could come from someone running a red light, would you call that attempted murder?
June 30, 2009 at 11:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
Joe Riley didn't appoint this woman to Town Council, she was elected by the voters. If she resigned it would take months to hold a special election and a runoff, both fairly expensive. She doesn't have that much time left in her term, does she? Why not just let the voters decide? I don't think Riley has the power to remove her from office anyway.
Of course, I believe the Governor could remove her from Office, but I suppose he's busy.
June 30, 2009 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CompostandWourier (anonymous) says...
WJHAMILTON3,
You call for the Governor to resign but do not call for this idiot to resign. Typical double standard of the left.
June 30, 2009 at 1:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mrjm (anonymous) says...
Right on, MisWesaMoves...unfortunately, little slaps on the wrist just continue to enable. I know - I've been there with an addicted family member. Cutting them some slack (with the thought that you don't want to ruin their life with severe punishment for first/second offenses) does nothing but give them the rope to hang. When will people wise up and make the FIRST punishment harsh? By the third or fourth time, they will have killed an innocent person.....
June 30, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MP (anonymous) says...
That is because the governor is a Republican and Morinelli is a Democrat. As far as WJH is concerned, democrats can lie, kill, steal, cheat, drive drunk, do whatever they want and it should all be overlooked. WJH needs to look up the definition of hypocrite. The definition will have his picture by it.
June 30, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
The difference is that we have a replacement for the Governor on standby, elected by the people for that purpose who can serve out the Governor's term. The Governor is also an executive official, who has day to day responsibilty for running the government. This woman is merely one member of City Council. Her district has other representatives.
In this case, her district would lose representation and there are significant costs associated with a special election. Depending on how much time is left in her term, it may not make any sense to hold a special election and run off. If she has a lot of time left in her term, she could resign at a time when her replacement could be elected in the next city election, which, I believe is in November 2009 anyway which would avoid additional election costs.
Harry Hallman remained in office just long enough to allow the remainder of his term to be filled by a substitute, so that no special election would be needed.
June 30, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
luvmydogs59 (anonymous) says...
I can see what nopartisan is trying to say, as the average, decent person does not leave home intending to murder someone. However...I agree with Cold Bud. When you drink, especially the large amount that this woman did, and you get behind the wheel of a car, you know what you are doing can cause an accident...and possibly a fatal one at that. If a person makes the decision to drive impaired and they kill someone, a murder charge should be levied.
June 30, 2009 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
issuetaker (anonymous) says...
Maybe she should pay for any costs she caused to be incurred. Her district should demand both removal and cost reimbursement.
June 30, 2009 at 5:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
colonelsmiley75 (anonymous) says...
Why doesn't she resign as well as the governor. Its time to have a thorough assessment of all public officials in the state and tossing every one of them including the Lt. Gov, Governor, and quite a few others
June 30, 2009 at 9:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
nopartisan_noproblem, to answer your question, if someone made a purposeful decision to run a red light, then yes, I'd say charge them with attempted murder. Drinking and driving is a decision that someone chooses to make, knowing they could kill someone. It's the same thing as a person putting on a blind fold and firing a gun in to a crowd, hoping they don't hit anyone. Until we accept that fact and treat the offense in the manner that it should be treated, innocent people will continue to die.
July 1, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
penny35 (anonymous) says...
Wow, does anyone else get the feeling that Morinelli's attitude is a little cavalier?
"some help"
"some time off"
"dealing with this crap"
I mean, what does she think she got? A speeding ticket?
You're a drunk! Get help and stay off the road!
July 23, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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