Menor apologizes

The senator declines to discuss the political repercussions of his drunken-driving arrest

State Sen. Ron Menor is not saying if he will continue in politics.

Menor, 52, a lawyer, faced the media yesterday for a five-minute news conference, but refused to discuss details of his Sunday morning DUI arrest.

"I especially regret the effect the incident has had on my wife and children," Menor said, adding that he wanted to apologize.

Menor was asked if he thought he had a drinking problem and the 20-year legislative veteran said, "Definitely not."

In a written statement, Menor said he had had "one or two small glasses of wine" at dinner Saturday night after the Chicago concert at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. He was stopped by a patrol officer early Sunday for driving too slowly on the freeway.

Poor eyesight and problems with an ill-fitting contact lens forced him to drive slowly, Menor said in his statement.

Menor is up for re-election this fall in the Mililani area. He has been a popular officeholder who twice was re-elected without opposition.

Asked yesterday about his political future, Menor said he did not know.

"My focus at this time is on my family; also, continuing to my work for the remainder of my term. I have not even begun thinking about that," Menor said when asked about re-election.

"Obviously, my involvement in this incident has disappointed them and I really feel bad about that. But my future in public service is not something I am thinking about. I am focusing on my family, my personal life and just finishing off my responsibility for the remainder of my legislative term in the Senate," Menor said.

Menor attended the daylong Senate session yesterday. During recesses, senators, both Democrats and Republicans, came by his desk to offer support.

Because Menor declined to take a field sobriety test, he could get his license revoked for a year. The state's Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office expects to issue an initial review decision within a week.