A Republican state representative from Elk River pleaded guilty in August to drunken driving after he was arrested driving 80 miles per hour on I-94 in Maple Grove.

Nick Zerwas, who has represented House District 30A since 2013, was pulled over around 10 p.m. on Aug. 2, by a New Hope police officer.

"I made an error in judgment," Zerwas told the Star Tribune on Thursday. "It was a huge mistake, and very embarrassing, and certainly not something I ever plan on doing again."

Zerwas, 34, said he was driving home after visiting old friends in the Twin Cities. After his arrest, he was held at the New Hope Police Department until a family member picked him up.

On Aug. 21, Zerwas pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree DWI.

Judge Thomas Fraser sentenced Zerwas to 30 days in the Hennepin County workhouse, but he stayed 28 days and was ordered community service, which Zerwas completed. Zerwas faces DFLer Brenden Ellingboe on Tuesday, in a Sherburne County district where he won 64 percent of the vote in 2012.

Patrick Condon