Speaker Kurt Zellers has a drinking problem and his name is Mark Buesgens

Mar 17, 2011

Speaker Kurt Zellers has a drinking problem and his name is Mark Buesgens

The Shakopee Valley News first broke the news in Rep. Buesgens allegedly violates probation by consuming alcohol:

State Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, who pleaded guilty last fall to drunken-driving in Wright County, has allegedly violated terms of his probation from the case by consuming alcohol.

Buesgens was stopped Wednesday night by a Scott County sheriff's deputy after someone called the Sheriff's Office at 9:10 p.m. to report a possible drunken driver heading home to Golf View Drive in Sand Creek Township.

Deputies located Buesgens' vehicle and stopped it at Golfview Drive and Highway 21 after observing a turn-signal violation. Buesgens, 49, admitted consuming alcohol and stated he was on probation for a previous DWI, according to the Scott County Sheriiff's Office. Buesgens was found to have consumed alcohol, but was under the legal limit, said county authorities.

Buesgens passed the field sobriety test and blew 0.008 percent on the preliminary breath test, said Scott County Sheriff Kevin Studnicka, who put out a press release about the probation violation.

Read the rest at the SVN. Minnpost reports that Speaker Zellers has issued a statetment about the traffic stop in Zellers to Buesgens: Get help on drinking problem:

Representative Buesgens has taken responsibility for his actions in response to violating his probation. These allegations are serious, and we expect Representative Buesgens to continue to take responsibility for his actions. We will support and pray for him in his recovery effort, and have requested that he seek additional professional evaluation and follow all recommended action.”

Zellers' request is a go one and Bluestem hopes that Buesgens will follow it.

Over in the Strib's Hot Dish Politics blog, Rachel Stassen Burger notes that Buesgens received similar advice last fall in Rep. Mark Buesgens stopped again, admits to drinking:

He has said at the time that he planned to seek treatment for alcoholism.

When {Buesgens] pleaded guilty in November, Wright County Assistant Attorney Shane Simonds said: "Mr. Buesgens has been very proactive since he obtained his charge and has taken steps to address his problems with alcohol."

Update 10:40: Last year, Bluestem broke the news of Buesgens' financial issues in Buesgens home under foreclosure proceedings. In Jordan's Rep. Buesgens stopped again, admits to having a drink, Rachel Stassen-Berger reports tonight:

Buesgens also faces financial trouble. Late last year, the bank that holds his mortgage moved to foreclose on his Jordan home. The foreclosure was delayed, but Buesgens said Thursday that he still may lose his house.

"It is not looking promising," he said.

Photo: Representative Mark Buesgens

The Last BBQ of Summer: More on Buesgens and Wright County Republican BPOU function

Buesgens home under foreclosure proceedings

Posted by Sally Jo Sorensen on Mar 17, 2011 at 04:12 PM | Permalink