COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — [KETV]-  A Pottawattamie County supervisor said he didn’t realize he had too much to drink when he was arrested for operating while intoxicated. In a phone interview with KETV in Omaha, Jeff Jorgensen said he was having a tough time mourning the loss of his wife, who died in May 2023, and he was self-medicating.

According to a police report, Jorgensen hit a vehicle on westbound I-80 in Council Bluffs and was pulled over on the shoulder. When he got out, according to the report, he fell into the interstate. The Iowa State trooper who arrested Jorgensen said he smelled of alcohol and “could not stand” without losing his balance. A breath test showed his blood alcohol level to be 0.168, or more than twice the legal limit.

Jorgensen, who was attending a Republican event in Fort Dodge, Iowa on Saturday, said he stopped at a few different spots on the way home to Council Bluffs to have a drink. Jorgensen calls himself a social drinker. He told KETV he was extremely remorseful and will seek grief counseling and alcohol treatment.

He was charged in Pottawattamie County Court with first offense operating while intoxicated and released from jail on Monday. Jorgensen was elected to serve until December 2026. The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors meets next on April 9. The county released a statement that it was aware of the incident but would not comment further.

Pott. County Democrats Chair Lisa Lima issued a statement, Monday night, calling for Jorgensen’s resignation. In the statement, Lima said “As proud residents of Pottawattamie County, we call on Supervisor Jeff Jorgensen to resign following the disturbing criminal events of Saturday, April 6th. Mr. Jorgensen was involved in a serious Operating While Intoxicated incident that resulted in criminal charges. This represents yet another public display of poor choices made by Mr. Jorgensen that hurts the hard-working residents of our county.

As supporters of law and order, we call on Mr. Jorgensen to resign from his position on the Board of Supervisors immediately. Our community deserves elected leadership that takes responsibilities seriously and acts with integrity. Mr. Jorgensen undermines the trust and confidence of Pottawattamie County citizens with his continued poor choices. We urge fellow community members, local officials, and residents to join us in demanding that our community values of respect, dignity, and accountability are upheld without compromise.”