Drunk Wasilla Pol Trashed Hotel, Billed City

A burned hotel room mattress, ruined bedding, a urine-stained chair, vomit on the carpet … but no, this was not the handiwork of a rock star on tour. Rather, Wasilla City Councilman Steve Menard apparently got a little crazy on a business trip—then slipped the city the bill for the damages. Menard, who has had alcohol-related problems in the past, apologized publicly Monday night and said he is now “11 days sober and working on a program.”

Menard will not resign, but the City Council is requiring him to reimburse the $350 it was billed, as well as the entire cost of his trip, which was for city business. He also cannot travel on city business for the rest of his term, which ends in October 2013, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The icing on the cake: Menard, whose family is influential in the region, was appointed by none other than family friend and then-Gov. Sarah Palin to complete his late father’s term on a board of. Menard also worked in Palin’s administration when she was governor. (More Wasilla stories.)