Titusville City Council candidate faces hearing on DUI charge - Meadville Tribune

A current candidate for Titusville City Council is facing a preliminary hearing next month for alleged drunken driving in Edinboro earlier this month.

Jayla Pertz is scheduled to appear June 28 before Magisterial District Judge Denise Stuck-Lewis for a preliminary hearing on driving under the influence and a summary count of driving without lights.

Pertz, 32, of 209 E. Main St., is one of four Republican Party candidates vying for three nominations to Titusville City Council in the May 21 primary.

Edinboro Police Department alleges Pertz's blood alcohol content was more than 1 1/2 times Pennsylvania's legal limit when she was pulled over on Waterford Street in Edinboro's business district at 12:52 a.m. May 19.

The arrest affidavit filed in the case said Pertz's blood alcohol content was 0.138 percent. Under Pennsylvania law, a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher is considered driving under the influence.

Pertz was driving east on Waterford Street in a white 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe when police pulled her SUV over for driving without lights, the affidavit said. Pertz had glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and had alcohol on her breath, according to the affidavit. Pertz admitted to police she had been drinking and subsequently failed three standardized field sobriety tests, the affidavit said. Pertz then was taken to Edinboro Police Department where she was administered a breath test which showed a blood alcohol content test result of 0.138 percent, the affidavit said.

The charges were filed May 21, and Pertz has been sent a summons via first-class mail to appear June 28 for the hearing before Stuck-Lewis, according to online court records.

Unofficial election results posted from the May 21 primary show Pertz has the most votes of the four Republican candidates seeking the three Republican nominations on the ballot. Pertz has 229 votes, followed by William P. (Bill) Adelman (205), Heather L. Leonardi (159) and James G. Elliott (113).

There were 677 Republican write-in votes cast as well. Until the write-in votes are tallied officially, it's unknown who will be the three Republican nominees.

While there were no Democratic Party candidates on the ballot for Titusville City Council, there were 554 Democratic write-in votes cast to choose three nominees from that party.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

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