Bannister to explore commercial ties on China trip

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two days after his arrest for drunken driving, Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister was in the office Wednesday, but plans to take the rest of the week off to prepare for a business  mission to China.

The China trip, sponsored and paid for by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, has been arranged to foster business ties with Asia. Bannister accompanied Chamber officials last summer on a similar trip to South Korea and China.

Sheriff's officers took Bannister into custody Monday evening shortly after he left a Lilburn restaurant in a county car. The arrest report states Bannister made in illegal lane change that nearly caused an accident. It also says after failing three field sobriety tests, Bannister registered a 0.00 on a breath test. Results of a blood test won't be completed for several weeks.

Bannister has said he plans to remain on the job and expects to be exonerated. He has turned in the keys to the county vehicle.