Politics & Government

Huff Gives Up Baltimore County Car

"I made a very poor decision," Baltimore County Councilman Todd Huff said in a written statement.

Baltimore County Councilman Todd Huff has relinquished the use of his county-owned vehicle following being charged early Saturday with drunken driving-related offenses.

"There are no excuses for my behavior. I can only promise that I will not make the same mistake in the future," Huff, a Lutherville Republican, said in a written statement released Monday afternoon. "As a first step toward accepting the consequences of my behavior, I am voluntarily relinquishing my county vehicle.

Huff was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after being pulled over in Towson shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday morning. He was driving his county-owned silver Jeep Grand Cherokee at the time of the traffic stop.

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The councilman has not returned calls from the media seeking comment.

"In the early hours of this past Saturday morning, I made a very poor decision," Huff said in the statement. "I am prepared to face the consequences of that decision, and I realize that I have caused my family and friends great pain. That is something I deeply regret.

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"I also regret that I let down my colleagues and the citizens of the Third District, and I recognize that I will have to work hard to regain their trust as well. I will strive to do just that."

County councilmembers are given access to a county car during their term. Nearly all of the current members use one.

The councilmembers reimburse the county for personal mileage through a payroll deduction. Councilmembers are also able to gas their cars up at county fuel depots.

Former Councilman Sam Moxley voluntarily gave up use of his county-owned Cheverolet Trailblazer following a drunk driving-related accident in 2005. He was involved in a second drunk driving-related accident four years later.

Mike Gimbel, a former long-time director of the county Bureau of Substance Abuse, said Huff's statement doesn't go far enough.

"Who cares about the car, he needs to give up the booze," Gimbel said. "If he doesn't give up drinking he can just have another accident in another car."


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