Don't count Jon Golnik out.
That's the reaction from area political science professors after news broke this week that the Republican candidate for Congress was arrested in 2001 on impaired driving charges.
"Voters are generally forgiving of this," said Richard Padova, who teaches government at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill. "It doesn't necessarily sink a candidate."
Golnik, 45, of Carlisle is one of four Republicans running in the Sept. 14 primary in the 5th Congressional District. The winner faces incumbent Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, on Nov. 2.
Golnik was arrested in Arlington on May 4, 2001, while driving home with a flat tire from an AC/DC concert in Boston. He was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The drug charge was later dropped, but a police report detailing Golnik's arrest claims that officers found rolling papers in Golnik's possession during his booking and that Golnik admitted to smoking "half a joint of marijuana" several hours before he was pulled over.
Tuesday, Golnik acknowledged what he said was his first and only arrest, but denied that he smoked marijuana or was found with rolling papers that night.
"If you're going to run for political office, one of the things you need to do before you throw your hat in the ring is to look at anything in your past that could be perceived as something negative by the voters," said Marguerite Kane, a veteran political science professor at Merrimack College. "It's going to come out."
A professor at Merrimack College since 1965, Kane could not recall a specific candidate from Massachusetts whose bid for a state or federal elected office was stymied by a past OUI arrest.
"It's going to hurt him a little," said Kane of Golnik. "I don't know how much."
But with less than two weeks before the Republican primary, Padova, Kane and University of Massachusetts at Lowell professor Michael Walsh all agreed that the timing is bad.
"It would have been better if it was three months ago and it would have been old news," said Walsh, who teaches political science and just recently moved from North Andover.
Walsh also said Golnik's arrest should have a minimal impact on election results.
"I just don't think that a 9-year-old DUI has as much of an impact as something more recent or more egregious," said Walsh. "I think the public is somewhat forgiving of it, especially an old incident like this."
Walsh said he feels the same will hold true for alleged marijuana use in the police report.
"I think it falls in the same category," said Walsh. "I don't think it's significant."
Instead, Walsh said Golnik's poor voting record in recent years is "potentially more damaging." Golnik went more than eight years without casting a ballot from 2000 to March 2009.
Walsh said voters expect a certain degree of political awareness and participation from candidates for public office.
Kane agreed that Golnik's voting record could prove troublesome come election day. But she said the alleged marijuana use also might ward off older voters and voters who are parents.
"To the extent that they're the preponderance of voters in the primary, that's not something that's going to work in his favor," said Kane. "On the other hand, people may say, 'Hey, everybody makes mistakes.'"
Kane said political newcomers often have a difficult time bouncing back from bad press.
"It's really hard when you get a negative attached to you as a new candidate," said Kane. "You're still establishing yourself as a candidate. You don't have that base of supporters that an incumbent would have. You're sort of on your own. You get one chance to create an identity with the voters."
Padova said he expects Golnik will move on by concentrating on the issues.
"He'll be distracted by this if it lingers," said Padova. "It changes the focus of the campaign now for the next two weeks in a way he doesn't want it to change."
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