Candidate Arrested For Trespassing

William Levinger, the Nampa physician challenging U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth in the Republican primary, was arrested for trespassing at a TV studio Wednesday after he refused to leave, and then took off his clothes.

Levinger stayed in the studio after being interviewed for KTVB-TV’s “Viewpoint” public affairs program. During the interview, he said he wasn’t a serious candidate for Congress and spoke of his medical problems.

“My goal is not to achieve the office, but to rekindle the spirit that motivated me,” Levinger said. “I think a candidate that runs has to examine their own values.”

Levinger, who was highly animated, talked of medical problems he said stem from a serious head injury suffered 13 or 14 years ago in a climbing accident.

He also said state medical officials visited him at home Tuesday when he had taken a double dose of a sleeping medication, and said he planned to surrender his license to practice medicine. “I’m supposed to be impaired,” Levinger said.

The state Board of Medicine reported Wednesday that Levinger’s license was in good standing.

Levinger, an anesthesiologist, filed his candidacy just before the deadline this month, then made a formal announcement last week.

He announced plans to walk from Boise to Coeur d’Alene campaigning if he wins the primary, and pledged to accept no campaign contribution larger than $100. He said he had tried to interest others in running against Chenoweth.

“When no one else did, I felt I must.”

Supporter Sharon Boston, who accompanied Levinger to the taping, said before the program, “He’s got some neat ideas that should be welcomed wholeheartedly, if we can get him to settle down enough to say them.”

While he was being questioned by police at the studio, Levinger said he had nothing to hide and then removed most of his clothes, police said.

Boise police Lt. Jim Tibbs said Wednesday night that Levinger resisted arrest and kicked a door of the patrol car after he was placed inside, causing $1,000 damage. No formal charges had been filed, but he could face charges including trespassing, resisting an officer and malicious injury to property.

Levinger, 40, was taken to the psychiatric unit at St. Alphonsus Hospital, Tibbs said.

Unless he withdraws by April 29, his name will remain on the ballot.

, DataTimes