Mesa city councilman removed from office following DUI

PHOENIX — The Mesa City Council voted Thursday morning to remove one of its colleagues who pleaded guilty to a DUI over the summer.

The vote to dismiss former Councilman Ryan Winkle was unanimous.

“It’s not going to stop my work for the city,” Winkle said. “I care about this city, I care what happens here. That’s not going to change after this decision.”

Winkle was arrested in May near Mill and Baseline roads in Tempe.

Winkle was seen “weaving in the roadway” and was stopped by Tempe police. Detective Lily Duran said Winkle showed signs and symptoms “consistent with impairment” during the stop, including bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

He denied drinking and agreed to field sobriety tests and, based on his performance, was taken to a DUI task force post, a police report said.

It was later learned that he had a blood-alcohol content of .220, nearly three times the legal limit. Winkle pleaded guilty to one count of extreme DUI in July and was sentenced to six days in jail and 49 days of home detention.

The councilman took a leave of absence following his arrest and apologized, but said he planned to return to his seat.

“Being a member of the city council is a great responsibility and it’s one I don’t take lightly,” he said. “To (Mesa) Mayor (John) Giles, my fellow council members … I apologize for both the bad light I have brought to this chamber and added pressure that I have given you individually.”

Winkle also said he made hundreds of calls to people to personally apologize.

An attorney for Winkle said his client will begin serving his jail sentence Friday.

According to his councilmember page, Winkle was first elected to the Mesa City Council in August 2016 and started representing the third district in January. He term was to end January 2021.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.