Resident calls for Oregon school board member to resign

OREGON — Oregon School Board Member Michael Guzman said he will not resign following an arrest for driving while under the influence of alcohol.

“Maybe you are a perfect, but I am not,” said Guzman responding to Chris Corcoran, of Mount Morris who asked for the resignation Monday night during the board’s public comment period. “I will not be resigning from anything.”

Corcoran called for Guzman’s resignation saying the charges put a “black mark” on the school district.

“It sends a bad message for our children,” said Corcoran. “Of course, he’s innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. I don’t think he should be on the board. I think he should resign.”

Guzman waited to respond to Corcoran’s comments until the “other matters” portion of the meeting.

“To use a public platform to make a statement like that about someone who you have never met before and say that person is a terrible person and is not a good role model for children in this district irritates me enough to respond,” said Guzman. “Maybe you are perfect, but I am not. I’ve made mistakes in my life and I’ve made poor choices and when I have I have learned from them and I’ve come back a better man.”

He also said he had recently helped feed 25 families in the elementary school and dropped off gifts to 24 children on Monday for Christmas.

“So, my response would be we are different people when somebody’s down and maybe at a low spot you will always find me there helping them,” Guzman said.

According to information provided by the Oregon Police Department, Guzman, 36, of Oregon, was arrested at 10:23 p.m. on Dec. 9 for driving while under the influence of alcohol near the intersection of Fifth and Gale Streets in Oregon. He was also issued citations for improper lane usage and illegal transportation of alcohol as a driver and transported to the Ogle County Jail.

According to court documents, Guzman posted $100 and his driver’s license as bond and is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 14.