When police cited state Sen. Danielle Nantkes for suspicion of drunk driving in the early morning hours of Valentine’s Day, she quickly issued a written apology and a promise.

She would submit to an alcohol evaluation, she said, and follow the recommendations it yielded.

Enough said?

While some of her constituents in north Lincoln are forgiving, they would like to hear more from the 29-year-old Democrat, would like her to reassure them.

They have questions about why she chose to drive after drinking, why she didn’t submit to the Breathalyzer or blood alcohol test when asked.

They have concerns about whether she will be treated by the court system the same as they would, if it happened to them.

And they want reassurance it won’t happen again.

So far, Nantkes isn’t saying anything more.

A Journal Star reporter made a face-to-face request Thursday for an interview. The senator said she would consider the request  and respond that day. She did not. Nor did she return a phone call and e-mail asking her to address the concerns of her District 46 constituents interviewed by the Journal Star.

Denise Ratliff, 25, a registered Republican, was among the 2,985 who voted for Nantkes in November.

Everybody makes mistakes, she said, but Nantkes is recognized as a leader in the community.

“I wouldn’t call for her resignation. But she has a little bit of explaining to do because she is a leader,” Ratliff said.

“Why didn’t she take the test?” she asked.

Not taking the blood alcohol test made her look guiltier, she said. Was she indignant, in shock, or did she just have something to hide?

“I would really seriously think (before) voting for her again,” Ratliff said.

Katherine Wolf, 39, a college professor and Green Party member, said she, too, was curious about why Nantkes refused the test.

“I guess I need to know more about it. Does she have any history? Is this an anomaly? But my first concern is about her. Does she need help?” Wolf said.

Lincoln police have stopped Nantkes twice before on suspicion of drunken driving, both times when she was 19.

After a stop on April 24, 1997, she was convicted of reckless driving and paid a $100 fine. And after an Aug. 22, 1997, stop, she was convicted of first offense DUI and ordered to serve one year on probation and pay $200.

Susan Siekman, 42, a registered Republican, said she didn’t like the idea the senator could wait until the end of the session for prosecution.

“I don’t think it will do her much good to wait,” she said. “She’ll forget what she has done by then.”

Jared Soloman, 30, a member of the Army Reserves and registered nonpartisan, said Nantkes should get the same treatment as anyone in her district would get. He also does not like the idea of delaying prosecution.

John McQuinn, chief assistant city prosecutor, said his office would, in all likelihood, not file charges until after the Legislature is out of session, in June.

The state Constitution allows that state senators — except in cases of treason, felony allegations or a breach of the peace — are privileged from arrest during the session and 15 days before and after.

She could waive the provision, McQuinn said.

“But her attorney has not indicated she is willing to do that,” he said.

He said he could not discuss what charges might be filed against the senator, but the case would be handled like any other.

Nantkes was driving east on P Street at 1 a.m. Feb. 14 when she collided with a southbound front-end loader. The snow plow had not quite cleared the intersection at 19th Street when she hit its right rear.

Nantkes told the officer she tried to stop but couldn’t because of snow, according to the accident report. Police said the officer observed signs of impairment and said Nantkes smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, noticeably impaired balance and bloodshot, watery eyes.

Nantkes allegedly refused to take field sobriety tests or a preliminary breath test at the scene and was taken to the police station, where she refused a chemical test.

Police cited her on suspicion of negligent driving, misdemeanor driving under the influence and refusal of a preliminary breath test and chemical test.

Rex Anderson, 42, a registered Democrat, said the senator deserves a second chance.

“Everybody makes mistakes, but when you’re in the limelight, you have to be a little more careful,” he said. “As long as she is doing her best out there, we should sit back and see how she does her job.”

If given the opportunity, he would say to her: “Work a little harder and keep your chin up. Don’t let them get you down. We need you.”

Allen Baier, 61, a registered Republican, said a public figure should try to represent herself better, but she can get through this.

“There are people who have gotten through worse than this.”

Courtney Lyons, 20, is a registered Democrat and University of Nebraska-Lincoln student who worked on Nantkes campaign. She said the senator should not have to explain what happened or why. She just needs to learn from the mistake and try to do a better job, she said.

But another UNL student, James Smith, 18, a registered Republican, said public representatives can’t afford to make mistakes.

“I just don’t think anybody who makes mistakes like that should hold office,” he said.

Last year, Lincoln police issued 1,881 citations for drunken driving, most of them — 1,126 — for first offense DUI.

In 434 of the cases, the driver’s blood alcohol level was over 0.15 percent — nearly twice the legal limit.

In 2006, police cited nearly 300 more drunk drivers than the year before, due primarily to more emphasis on drunk driving arrests and more traffic enforcement overall, said Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady.

Nantkes is not the only state senator, or other office holder, to be ticketed for DUI.

Former state Sen. Dennis Byars of Beatrice was cited for driving while intoxicated in 1991 while the Legislature was in session. Sen. Kermit Brashear was ticketed in 1996 in Omaha.

A police officer ticketed Byars in Lincoln after he saw him bump parked cars while trying to leave a parking space at 11th and K streets.

A breath test revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.177 percent.

Byars pleaded guilty to the charge two months later, despite his constitutional immunity from arrest. A judge gave him nine months of probation, a $200 fine, 60-day license suspension and an order to undergo alcohol education.

Byars did not seek re-election in 1994 but ran successfully in 1998 and 2002.

Brashear, who was first elected in 1995, served two more terms after his DUI and was elected speaker in 2005.

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.