Clayton Perry, San Antonio District 10 City Council member, greeted members of the Northeast Neighborhood Alliance on Jan. 23, his first appearance with NNA since recently ending a two-month sabbatical that followed an arrest for driving while intoxicated.

Perry returned to his full-time duties as an elected official at the Jan. 12 council meeting following a leave of absence prompted by his alleged involvement in a vehicular hit-and-run Nov. 6.

Local law enforcement authorities said Perry remains under a DWI investigation. A police affidavit claimed Perry had 14 drinks at a northeast side bar before attempting to drive home Nov. 6.

Perry typically attends the bimonthly meeting of the NNA, a collective of northeast side homeowners and neighborhood associations, at the Northeast Service Center. This time around, Perry told the audience he was nervous in offering a public apology for his behavior.

“I’m sorry I made bad judgement. I made a horrible mistake,” Perry said. “I let all of you down. My decisions led to a bad mistake.”

Perry said he was thankful that nobody was hurt in his alleged hit-and-run. He also extended gratitude to family, friends and supporters in the community, many of whom texted or called him in the days and weeks following the incident.

“It’s been a tough two months, and it’s not over with. There’s a ways to go for me,” Perry said, referencing the ongoing DWI investigation.

In his recent public appearances or press statements, Perry has neither offered comments about the investigation or his pledge toward counseling and self-improvement.

Perry said, however, messages from well-wishers across the community have helped him to keep up morale since the Nov. 6 incident.

“From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate that. That has gotten me through this,” he said.

Perry acknowledged he does not expect latitude from every segment of the community.

“Understanding and compassion—I know I’m not going to get a lot of that from people, but I do ask for your forgiveness,” he said.

Perry said he is now focused on continuing his council work, which he said—aside from his military career—has been fulfilling.

Perry has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election in the May 6 election. He also thanked NNA President Mike Gallagher, a former District 10 council member who briefly served as Perry’s replacement during Perry’s sabbatical.

“I’m back to doing the job you elected me to do,” Perry said.

According to Bexar County records, Perry took part in a Jan. 24 pre-trial conference regarding the charges against him for DWI and for failure to stop and render aid after the hit-and-run. He is scheduled for arraignment on the DWI charge Jan. 30.