A Warsaw man running for the District 22 Indiana House of Representatives seat is facing a felony charge of driving while intoxicated from August. 34 year-old Michael Stinfer is running as an Independent, against Republican Curt Nisly and Democrat David Kolbe. The Elkhart Truth reports he was “taken in” for a blood test which showed an elevated blood-alcohol level. A campaign spokesperson says the drinking that led to the August stop is Stinfer's response to post-combat stress, resulting from his military service in Iraq. The spokesperson says Stinfer isn't an alcoholic and the the new charges won't cause him to drop out of the contest. Stinfer was also arrested in Elkhart County back in April, charged with operating while intoxicated and endangering a person. A judge accepted a plea agreement for the endangering a person charge, and Stinfer pleaded guilty to the driving while intoxicated charge.
