Tuesday, November 3, 2009

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State Rep., 20, arrested at house party, refuses to resign

BEDFORD, N.H. -- A 20-year-old state representative was arrested for drinking at a party and is refusing to resign from office.

Brian Poznanski was arrested with 21 others at an off-campus house party in Bedford near the St. Anselm College campus.

Police were called to the house when a fight broke out and found many had been drinking illegally.

The politics major was elected last November and now some of his constituents are disappointed.

"I think it's kind of ridiculous if someone going to run for state rep he should be out doing things he shouldn't be doing," said Jared Saleski, a Nashua voter.

"I don't care who you are, president on down, you pay the consequences, you break the law," said Linda Martineau, a Nashua voter.

The state representative from Nashua, N.H. apologized for drinking alcohol, but said he will not resign from the House.

Poznaski released a statement that read in part, "As a state representative I am held to a high standard of conduct and I hold myself to an even higher standard, I recognize my mistake and I now want to put this behind me."

"He should look at this as a learning experience, because he may end up being an excellent rep, he just made a dumb mistake," said Dr. David Barnes, a Nashua voter.

"I'd be willing to give him a break. I know I cut my 20-year-old a break," said another local resident.

Poznanski goes back to work in January when the State Legislature reconvenes, until then he said he will be focused on his studies.                              

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