Yet another woman says Kansas teen candidate Aaron Coleman abused her. Will voters listen?
Despite what he says, horridly marred Kansas legislative candidate Aaron Coleman hasn’t changed all that much since he bullied and blackmailed girls in middle school some five years ago.
That’s according to ex-girlfriend Taylor Passow, who told The Star that the 19-year-old Coleman choked her, slapped her three times and encouraged her to commit suicide only last December.
That would definitively indicate that the Kansas House District 37 Democratic nominee’s admitted bad behavior toward girls in middle school — including revenge porn and blackmail — isn’t completely confined to years past, as he has maintained.
“Air out the clip into your head,” is the inducement to suicide Passow says Coleman texted her last New Year’s Eve after having choked and slapped her in a hot tub a few days prior. “Mag dump yourself. Do that midnight tonight. If I never hear from you again then I’ll know what happened.”
Voters in Wyandotte County have to be asking themselves what happened Aug. 4, when Coleman won the Democratic primary by 14 votes against respected incumbent Rep. Stan Frownfelter. Coleman is Democratic voters’ choice for the Legislature? Really? Will he be the people’s choice in November, now that all this is known about him?
Since Coleman first offered to withdraw, then withdrew his withdrawal, it appears his name will be the only one on the November ballot. No Republican filed in the primary.
It now comes down to Coleman vs. Frownfelter again, with the latter planning a write-in campaign, as well as Republican Kristina Smith waging her own write-in effort in the heavily Democratic district.
It’s difficult to understand why even one informed voter would back Coleman in the general election. But he has one win under his belt, and his is the only name on the ballot. And Americans are a forgiving lot, even when it’s utterly unwarranted. Oddly enough, that makes Coleman the one to beat in November.
This is a ton to forgive, however. And Passow’s allegations are fairly recent, therefore certainly inexcusable by the mere passage of time. Moreover, one can forgive someone without elevating him to a position of power.
Coleman’s acknowledged and alleged behaviors are abominable. Should he be so easily absolved for his admitted middle school abuses, which drove one girl to attempted suicide? We sure don’t think so, and neither does the Democratic Party, which has pledged its support to Frownfelter.
In addition, Coleman’s odd and arguably manipulative about-face to stay in the race this week, despite mounting testimony against his character, shows a bizarre and troubling lack of self-awareness. It might be in his own best interest to seek help rather than stature.
Moreover, his alleged battery of Passow in December involves criminal conduct — conduct unbecoming a public servant of any kind, much less one who writes laws.
Forces rightly continue to rally against Coleman. Despite his left-wing views, groups such as Our Revolution Kansas and the Kansas City Democratic Socialists of America have disavowed him, joining Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Democrat from Wichita.
The Kansas House Democratic Caucus tweeted late Wednesday, “KS House Dems have repeatedly condemned Coleman. These further, even more horrific details prove him to be a disturbed, dangerous person, a threat to women everywhere, and should be barred from ANY position of power. He is absolutely unfit for office.”
Meanwhile, the girl who says she attempted suicide after Coleman’s middle-school bullying says of Passow, “I’m glad she has spoken out, and is now sharing her truth.”
Will it matter?
It’s up to the district’s voters in November. What say you? Will you reward this kind of hideous behavior — and insult girls and women in the process?
This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.