Welz Kauffman, president and CEO of Ravinia Festival, is facing a drunken driving charge after his arrest less than a half mile from his Highland Park home and the famed outdoor concert venue.
Kauffman, 51, was arrested at 8:46 p.m. on June 7 at Roger Williams Avenue and Sheridan Road after police responded to an accident, Highland Park police said.
In addition to the DUI charge, Kauffman was ticketed for illegal lane use, Pioneer Press is reporting.
Ravinia, which hosted Concert Dance Inc. that night in its Bennett Gordon Hall, released the following statement Monday:
"For more than a decade the Ravinia Festival has flourished on and off stage under the leadership of Welz Kauffman, and we believe it is in our best interests for him to continue to lead the festival," Robert Krebs, chairman of the Ravinia Board, said in the statement. "Both Welz and we recognize that he has an illness, and the Ravinia family will support him as he works to overcome it."
Kauffman, who was unavailable for comment, was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in Lake County Court on June 29.
Friday, May 17 2013 10:37 PM EDT2013-05-18 02:37:06 GMT
On Friday, the current Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis announced that she has been re-elected and says she won with 80 percent of the vote.
On Friday, the current Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis announced that she has been re-elected and says she won with 80 percent of the vote.
