BRIGHTON, Colo. (KDVR) — A Brighton city councilor accused of driving drunk to a council meeting then shutting his front door on an investigating officer has submitted his resignation.
The City of Brighton said Kris Jordinelli submitted his resignation for Ward 3 on Friday, effective immediately.
Jordinelli, 64, faces a count of misdemeanor driving under the influence in the Aug. 17 incident, when multiple people reported that the councilor showed up to city hall intoxicated.
Jordinelli’s resignation letter
It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation from the City Council, effective today,
Sincerely, Kristopher Jordinelli
Friday, December 3, 2021.
I had high hopes for what we could accomplish together for Brighton. I am disappointed that
false allegations about me have distracted us from that purpose. Now the council threatens to
waste City resources and revenue in continued pursuit of that unfortunate end. While I am most
certainly innocent, the last thing I want is to have the citizens of Brighton suffer as I seek to
prove it. If my resignation can save us from such a wasteful spectacle, then I have no hesitation
in tendering it immediately.
It has been an honor to work for my community; although, clearly, nothing could have
prepared me for how toxic the political components would be. Live and learn. Thank you for the
experience.
On Tuesday, Brighton City Council unanimously voted to appoint a special counsel to investigate Jordinelli’s behavior as a potential abuse of power. The vote was 8-0, with Jordinelli being absent from the vote.
What the police report says
According to a police report obtained by FOX31, multiple people took notice of Jordinelli’s condition that day at city hall.
In a statement to police, Mayor Pro Tem Matt Johnston said Jordinelli looked “disoriented” and appeared “inebriated,” although he said he did not smell alcohol on him.
An officer noticed Jordinelli walk into city hall “disheveled” and with “an unsteady gait.” The officer smelled alcohol on the councilor’s breath and noticed his speech was slurred and his eyes were “bloodshot and watery,” and he appeared “confused.”
The officer told two assistant city managers, who walked Jordinelli out of the building. They then walked him to his nearby home after he tried to get in a car that was not his own.
An officer responded to the incident at city hall and noticed Jordinelli’s white 2007 Buick LaCrosse was parked at an angle and taking up two parking spaces. City hall surveillance video captured the councilor driving into the lot and parking.
The officer went to Jordinelli’s nearby home and found him with “slurred speech,” and he had “red watery eyes and was unsteady on his feet while standing at the door,” according to the report. He was shifting in the doorway and told the officer, “You have no right to be here.”
The officer asked him how much he had to drink, “and Kris did not reply.”
According to the report, Jordinelli said, “Do you know who I am?” The officer said he did. Jordinelli then identified himself as a council member, said, “You don’t want to mess with me” and shut the door and locked it.
Jordinelli was booked and released on misdemeanor DUI on Oct. 14, according to the report.
Jordinelli claimed in a statement to FOX31 that the incident was medical in nature:
This case arises out of my suffering a serious medical event prior to a meeting and one of my political opponents trying to use that event now, several months after it occurred, to try and oust me from office. I am sad to see how low others have gone to try and get rid of me just because we may not agree on political issues. That is all I can say about the case at this time. I look forward to being vindicated of this baseless charge in court.
The City of Brighton said it will determine the next steps for filling the vacant Ward 3 council seat during a future city council meeting.
