School board member in Wood Dale faces DUI charge

A member of the Wood Dale District 7 school board said Wednesday he plans to remain in his post despite being charged with DUI earlier this month.

Arthur S. Wielga, 36, of 190 Forest View Ave., Wood Dale, was arrested by Addison police around 1 a.m. Sept. 7 while riding a motorcycle northbound on Lombard Road near Lake Street. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police reports.

"The law basically says innocent until proven guilty, so we'll see what happens," Wielga said.

Police reports indicate he also was charged with making an improper turn and disobeying a traffic signal.

Wielga was elected to a four-year term on the District 7 board in 2007.

This is Wielga's second DUI charge. He was arrested on Dec. 8, 2002, by Wood Dale police for speeding and was found to have a blood-alcohol content of .15, according to DuPage County court records. The legal limit in Illinois is .08.

Wielga plead guilty in early 2003 and was sentenced to court supervision, fees and fines and an evaluation.

District 7 Superintendent John Corbett said district officials were unaware of Wielga's earlier DUI charge, but do know Wielga is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16 for the current charge. Corbett declined to comment further.

Before being elected to his current post on the District 7 school board, Wielga ran as a write-in candidate for a seat in 1997 but lost.