Miller chief of staff suspected of DUI

Tuesday, May 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Jim Mulhall, chief of staff for Gov. Bob Miller, is free on a $1,100 bond today after being arrested last week on a drunken driving charge.

Mulhall is set to appear May 22 in Carson City Justice Court for arraignment on the first-time offense. If Mulhall is found guilty, his license could be suspended for six months.

Mulhall was arrested by the Nevada Highway Patrol in Carson City after returning from a dinner in Reno honoring Assembly Co-Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, officials said.

Miller spokesman Richard Urey said a trooper stopped Mulhall about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

Mulhall allegedly registered 0.11 on a blood-alcohol test, officials said. In Nevada, 0.10 is considered above the legal limit.

Miller took no disciplinary action but said Mulhall had exercised "bad judgment."

"Jim has my full confidence as my chief of staff and my personal support as a friend," Miller said.

Mulhall, who said he made a serious mistake, apologized to his family, Miller and the governor's staff. "I have learned my lesson, and nothing like this will ever happen again," Mulhall said.

Before joining Miller's staff in January 1995, Mulhall served as press secretary and 1994 campaign aide for Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev. Mulhall also worked for former Rep. James Bilbray, D-Nev.

Mulhall is the second Miller staffer to be arrested on a drunken driving charge. Brian Harris, staff legal counsel from 1989 to 1993 and is a member of the State Gaming Control Board, was arrested at a sobriety checkpoint near Carson City in May 1990.

Miller suspended Harris from work for a week. Harris later pleaded guilty and paid a fine.