MILFORD – Newly elected state Rep. Stephen Stepanek was charged with driving while intoxicated early Sunday morning in Milford.

Stepanek, who lives in Amherst, was one of eight Republicans who won the general election for state House District 6 on Nov. 2.

Shortly after midnight Nov. 7, Milford police arrested Stepanek on charges of driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, second offense, and failure to turn on headlights when required.

He was released on $600 bail, and his court date is scheduled for Dec. 1.

Milford District Court has no record of a previous DWI conviction, although there is a 1995 charge out of Concord District Court for transporting alcohol.

Stepanek, 59, is the former president of Hampshire Paper in Milford. He served in the Statehouse from 2002-08.

He did not seek re-election later that year but instead ran for Executive Council, losing to Nashua Democratic incumbent Debora Pignatelli.

Stepanek also served as an Amherst selectman from 1989-91.

After retiring from Hampshire Paper, Stepanek founded White Cliff Realty and White Cliff Communications.

On Election Day, a week ago Tuesday, Stepanek was the second-highest vote getter to win one of eight House seats representing Amherst and Milford. Stephanek finished with the third best vote in each of the towns that together gave him 5,519 votes, behind only incumbent Milford Rep. Douglas Willette with 5,536 votes.

Stepanek did not return a call for comment. Mark Vincent, head of the Amherst Republican club, said Tuesday morning that he had no comment.

Stepanek is also chairman of the Hillsborough County Republican Committee.

All county and city party leadership posts soon come up for a new two-year term at caucuses that start later this month.

Long before this incident, Stepanek told peer party leaders that he would not seek another term as county chairman.

Stepanek has also served as Milford chairman of the Granite State Taxpayers Association.

In past elections, Stepanek was a successful fundraiser for the House Republican leadership political action committee and for other GOP candidates.

While in the Legislature, House GOP leaders tapped his business experience and named him to the House Finance Committee that wrote a proposed two-year state budget.

Stepanek has been considered a leading contender to return as a House budget writer that will first have to respond to Gov. John Lynch’s proposed budget and deal with a potential shortfall of up to $600 million.

A Villanova University graduate, Stepanek served for five years on the New Hampshire Supreme Court Professional Conduct Committee that takes up ethical complaints against lawyers and was a trustee of the Strawberry Bank Museum from 2004-06.

Convictions for motor vehicle offenses have no bearing on anyone’s eligibility to serve in the Legislature.

Republican State Chairman John H. Sununu’s spokesman, Ryan Williams, declined comment.

In July 2007, Democratic Rep. Michael Brunelle, of Manchester and the Democratic Party executive director, was convicted for driving drunk in his hometown.

“A DWI is a serious offense that Michael is currently, and will continue to, pay a price for,’’ said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley at the time. “I am positive that Michael is very remorseful for his error in judgment, and I trust that Michael has learned a valuable lesson.”

Brunelle did not seek re-election to his House seat in 2008.

Last week, however, Brunelle was one of only a handful of Democratic candidates to win a House seat in Manchester.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 21, or kcleveland@cabinet.com. Kevin Landrigan can be reached at 321-7040 or klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com.