"I believe I can and will continue to serve the citizens of Lake County with the same dedication and energy I've had for the past 25 years, and the issues in my personal life will not prohibit me from doing the job they elected me to do," she said.
Schmidt, a Republican, again apologized for her "lapse in judgment," asked for her constituents' forgiveness and said she has begun counseling "to help in resolving the issues in my personal life." Her husband, Robert Schmidt, has filed for divorce.
Last Christmas, Schmidt called 911 during a marital spat, identified herself as the former county board chairman and told dispatchers to "ignore" her husband if he called, according to tapes of the call released last week. Schmidt also told the dispatcher her husband feared her because of her "connections."
The tapes' release followed reports of two other domestic disturbances between the Schmidts that resulted in police intervention.
In an August episode, Schmidt told authorities that his wife rammed his car with hers, according to police reports. On Sept. 26, Schmidt told police his wife struck and bit him; she reported that he pulled out her earring and struck her face. No charges were filed in any of the reported episodes.
In response to Suzi Schmidt's announcement, Senate GOP leader Christine Radogno issued a statement saying Schmidt "assures me she is taking the appropriate measures to continue to address these issues while maintaining her focus on the needs of the district."
Radogno had earlier said of Schmidt that any "abuse of the public trust" would not be tolerated.
Larry Leafblad, who served on the Lake County Board for 16 years with Schmidt and is a longtime friend, announced he will challenge her in the March GOP primary.
"I'm not getting in because of her," he said. "The idea is, we can't lose that seat, because then the Democrats will have a supermajority in the House."
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