Missouri gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence has acknowledged a drunken driving violation from several years ago.

Spence told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he made a mistake when he attempted to drive home after a night of celebrating with friends in July 2004. He was pulled over by police in the St. Louis suburb of Warson Woods. State records show Spence's driver's license was suspended for three months.

Spence is a 53-year-old business from Ladue who is making his first run for elective office. He is the second Republican candidate for a statewide office to acknowledge a drunken driving offense.

St. Louis businessman John Brunner, who is running for U.S. Senate, had his driver's license suspended after being stopped for drunken driving in August 2004.

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