Ohio ? Gov. Bob Taft issued a public apology Thursday after becoming the first Ohio governor found guilty of a crime, but while saying “I accept total responsibility for my mistake, and I’m sorry,” he insisted he would not resign over the ethics violations.

“I will continue to do the job to which I have been elected by the people of the state of Ohio,” Taft said. “There is no connection between golf for contributions and state contracts in our administration.”

Taft pleaded no contest Thursday to charges that he broke state ethics law by failing to report golf outings and other gifts.