Thaindian News

By Gina Gomez
Aug 26, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The Harrisburg City Council has withdrawn Mayor Donald “Buzzy” Faulkner’s city vehicle driving privileges after he was arrested last week on a drunken driving charge. The Mayor was driving a city owned car then. On Monday, the Council members voted 6-0 at a special meeting to take City vehicles’ keys from the mayor.

Mayor Donald “Buzzy” Faulkner was charged with DWI, careless driving and driving without a seat belt by the Poinsett County sheriff’s office last Friday. The council members discussed the matter in their meeting and council member Rose Brown said that everyone in the council was concerned about the possibility that the Harrisburg city might have been sued if the Mayor was involved in any accident. City Clerk Pat King said that Mayor Donald “Buzzy” Faulkner did not attend the meeting.

The media reports that if the Mayor is convicted of DWI, it could be his second offense as back in April 2007 he pleaded guilty to a DWI charge. Rose Brown, in one of her statements said that the members of the council are concerned about the Mayor driving a city vehicle whether he is working for the city or off hours as the main concern is about the liability of the city. One of the council members, Lori Howton made a motion to extinguish the right or privilege of driving any city owned vehicle by Mayor Donnie Faulkner. The other members of the Council Sandra Cooper, Fonda Eaton, Sonny McIntosh including Rose Brown voted for this motion and another member Randy Mills abstained from the vote. A close close to Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office said that the Mayor was driving south in the northbound lane for around 250 yards. The officer also noticed signs of vomit and after getting strong odor of intoxicant from his body arrested him.