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DUI convictions

Columbiana County Sheriff David L. Smith faces a charge of operating a vehicle impaired, but his political career may not be affected. Here are some other Columbiana politicians who had DUI convictions and what happened to them:

Sean Logan was charged with DUI in 1991 in Columbus while he was a state representative. He was charged one day and admitted his fault the next day. Details on his sentence weren't immediately available. He went on to be elected county commissioner and now is the director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources under Gov. Ted Strickland.

Dennis Johnson, the head of the county Democrat Party, was charged with DUI after he drove into a ditch near Canfield in 2001. He eventually paid a fine and went to a driver’s program. He went on to serve on the county board of elections and is working for U.S. Sen. Charlie Wilson as his liaison to the 6th Congressional District.

State law says a sheriff cannot have been convicted of a felony or a first-degree misdemeanor. Such charges are often reduced, however, and Smith’s long history in

law enforcement would likely be taken into account in any plea agreement, local officials said.

Source: Vindicator files