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The wine bottles were not meant to make light of alcoholism or the crime's seriousness, said state House Majority Leader Chet Pollert.

Kirsten Baesler, superintendent of public instruction who faces pending charges of driving under the influence for a Feb. 26 stop along Interstate 94 in Bismarck, was the keynote speaker at the Lincoln Day Dinner held at the Jamestown Knights of Columbus for Republicans in Districts 12 and 29.

The districts sold several bottles of Baeslers Bulldog Red Baesler graduated from Flasher Public Schools, whose mascot is a bulldog and Supt. Baeslers Honor Roll White, which features an A+ on the label. That night, Baesler, a Republican, signed the bottles of wine at the request of fundraiser organizers but did not take any home, Pollert said.

"I was told it was a longstanding tradition for the districts to auction off bottles of wine that had been personalized for the keynote speaker and signed by that person," Baesler said in a statement Tuesday, March 3. I was unaware of this tradition beforehand. I was told they were a major piece of the fundraising auction and that I would only be signing them.

Baesler declined to comment beyond the statement.

The event was meant to raise money to help reelect Republicans in the districts, said Pollert, a Republican from District 29. The wine was not meant to make a mockery of the superintendents office, drunken driving or anyone who has been arrested for a DUI, he said.

Anybody who has problems with alcoholism, or anybody who's had a car accident caused by a person from (drunken) driving, this was not to be a slap in the face for that, he said. I actually went away from that night thinking this was a pretty good social event. People had a good time.

Dwaine Heinrich, the mayor of Jamestown who also serves on the District 12 GOP executive committee, started the tradition of selling wine and pies in 2000. Last year, the districts sold wine bottles with State Auditor Josh Galleons name on them.

This is a tradition that has been done here for years as more of a memento of the evening and a fundraising gimmick, Heinrich said.

No one was endorsed for public office at the event, Pollert said. He estimated about 100 people attended.

Pollert apologized if the events of the fundraiser offended anyone, adding that was not the districts intentions.

If the districts had canceled the event, asked Baesler not to speak or declined to sell the wine, the story would have twisted into the GOP embarrassing the superintendent, Heinrich said. Instead, he feels leaders chose the high road.

Are we going to show compassion to someone whos hurting, or are we going to further hurt someone whos hurting? he asked. If people take that the wrong way, as far as Im concerned, thats OK with me.

Heinrich said he would take responsibility for the fundraiser since it was his idea, adding Baesler should not be blamed.

If theres any fault on the situation to place on anyone, it is on the people who are trying to make this something other than what it was, he said.

Baesler was booked for the event in the fall and reportedly asked if the districts wanted someone else to speak at the fundraiser after she was arrested.

She had not been charged with a DUI as of Tuesday. State troopers said she refused to submit to a chemical test to determine her blood alcohol content. No booking mug was taken.

The Burleigh County State's Attorney's Office said it is reviewing the case.

Baesler previously announced she would seek reelection to her office this year. She has held the post since 2013.

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Republicans auction wine signed by North Dakota K-12 leader days after her DUI arrest - INFORUM