A member of the Mesa City Council now faces ethics charges that could result in his removal from office in the wake of a DUI arrest in May.
Councilmember Ryan Winkle didn't attend a special meeting Thursday when the council voted to approve charging him with conduct indicating a lacking fitness to hold office and failing to maintain a high standard of ethics.
The DUI arrest was Winkle's second in eight years.
Mayor John Giles says the council's vote doesn't decide Winkle's guilt or innocence and that the council will hold a future hearing on deciding whether to impose discipline up to removal from office.
Winkle has apologized for his conduct. He took a leave of absence but said he didn't plan to step down from the council.
