Kim Coleman Explained

Kim Coleman
State House:Utah
District:42nd
Term Start:January 1, 2015
Term End:January 1, 2021
Predecessor:Jim Bird
Successor:Jordan Teuscher
Birth Name:Kim Fitzpatrick[1]
Birth Date:11 July 1967
Birth Place:New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Joel Coleman
Children:5[2]
Residence:West Jordan, Utah, U.S.
Education:University of Utah (BA)

Kim Coleman[3] (born July 11, 1967) is an American politician who served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2015 to 2021, representing the 42nd district.[4] She was a candidate in the 2020 Republican primary for Utah's 4th congressional district, seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic congressman Ben McAdams,[5] but lost to Burgess Owens.

Early life and education

Coleman was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in Louisiana and Texas. At the age of 19, she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and soon after served an 18-month mission in Massachusetts.[6] In 1992, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah, where she studied psychology, sociology, and criminology.[7]

Career

Coleman's interest in civic engagement began after she spotted a drug house near her residence, leading her to start a neighborhood watch program. She became a planning commissioner in West Valley City. Her husband, Joel, also served two terms as a West Valley City councilman.[8] She has been active in conservative local politics, having co-founded the West Side Matters Republican Club, served as both a county and state Central Committee member for the Utah Republican Party, and run the political consulting firm Coleman Planet.[9]

The Colemans also founded Monticello Academy, a charter school in West Valley City, where she serves as executive director.[10] She created a financing model now commonly used to allow charter schools to acquire buildings independent of development companies.[6] [11] [12]

Utah State Legislature

Coleman ran for Utah's 42nd state legislative seat in 2014, defeating incumbent Jim Bird in the Republican convention and winning the November 4, 2014, general election against Democratic nominee Nicholas DeLand with 69.5% of the vote.[13]

Coleman has served on the Judiciary, Political Subdivisions, Law Enforcement (Vice Chair), Public Education (Vice Chair), Administrative Rules, Higher Education Appropriations, and Health and Human Services Appropriations Committees. She also serves on the Attorney General's Opioid Task Force, the Utah Sentencing Commission, the Children's Justice Center Advisory Board, and the Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee.[14] [6]

In 2020, Coleman voted against a tax reform bill that the Utah Legislature passed during a special session in December and that Governor Gary Herbert and state lawmakers later repealed after it proved unpopular.[15] She described this as an instance where she sought to "vote along my principles and the values of my community and my constituents."[15]

Higher education

Coleman is an advocate of reform on college campuses. As a legislator, she advocated for a variety of issues protecting free speech, including the Campus Anti-Harassment Act[16] and Campus Free Expression Act.[17] [18] [19] [20] Her work protecting campus free speech earned her the Legislator of the Month award from the American Legislative Exchange Council, which wrote, "100% of college students deal with free speech issues on campus. Many of these institutions feel the pressure from one side or the other to act for or against certain ideas or speakers. Enshrining and educating on first amendment principles will guarantee a college is protected against those who would promote chaos instead of debate."[21]

Overturning the Obama administration's "zero tolerance" policies regarding sexual assault on campus, Coleman advanced the Student Right to Active Counsel,[22] which requires institutions of higher education to allow accused parties to have legal representation at disciplinary proceedings. She also successfully advocated for a "Know Before You Go" bill, which requires colleges to inform prospective students about the debt they will accrue relative to their post-graduation financial prospects.[23]

Gun rights, police reform, and public safety

Coleman was the House sponsor of a bill designed to ban police quotas in citations and arrests,[24] which led to the disclosure from many police officers that they were required to issue a certain number of tickets.[25]

Coleman was a leading co-sponsor when the Utah Legislature considered legislation allowing adults ages 18 to 20 to get concealed carry permits. When representative Carol Spackman Moss insisted the bill was "a step too far," Coleman responded that "A step too far is a completed rape. The single most effective way to stop a completed rape is the use of a gun or a knife." She then shared that she was a survivor of an attempted sexual assault when she was a 19-year-old.[26] [27] She continued, "studies have shown … a woman's best option [when an attempted rape becomes unavoidable] is to resist with a gun in her hands." The bill passed and was signed into law.[28]

Legislative awards and honors

Coleman has received recognition for her legislative track record, including Legislator of the Month 2019 (ALEC-FreedomWorks), Legislator of the Year 2019 (Keep My Voice), Friend of the Taxpayer (Utah Tax Payers Association), Champion of Economic Freedom (Americans for Prosperity), Defender of Liberty (Libertas), Top 10% (Utah GrassRoots), ALEC-FreedomWorks Legislator of the Week 2017, Award for Conservative Achievement/Excellence (American Conservative Union), and Golden Apple of School Choice Legislator of the Year.[14] [6]

2020 House of Representatives race

In January 2020, Coleman announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives, vying for Utah's 4th congressional district, challenging Democratic incumbent Ben McAdams.[29] Coleman won the Utah state Republican convention in April 2020 with 55% of the delegate vote. Coleman went on to compete in a four-way primary with second-place finisher Burgess Owens, Jay McFarland, and Trent Christensen.[15] On June 30, 2020, Coleman lost to Owens, earning 24% of the vote. Owens won with 43% of the vote.[30]

In a May 2020 editorial for UtahPolicy.com, Coleman wrote that "even when McAdams votes against Pelosi's far-left agenda, he's still voting for it" because the United States' "political system is a two-team sport" and "by his presence, Ben McAdams furthers the radical, far-left agenda of the modern Democrat Party."[31]

COVID-19 and the Chinese Communist Party

Coleman was an early critic of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) mishandling of the novel COVID-19 virus. On her blog, she wrote, "the coronavirus plague facing us comes exclusively as a courtesy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). No Communist China, no crisis. The CCP lied and dissembled the reality of this often-deadly virus, their deception costing the rest of the world as many as six weeks of preparation. Those six weeks will end up costing how many thousands of lives worldwide? How many trillions of dollars?"[32]

The Salt Lake Tribune reported on criticism of her blog post, with some commentators calling it "racist."[33] The Tribune later ran an op-ed by Asian-American supporter Frances Floresca defending Coleman's post, stating that "the main purpose of Coleman's post was to explain our nation's dependence on Chinese pharmaceuticals and how China controls the world's medical drug supply. … Coleman is clearly not wanting to harm anyone no matter who they are."[34]

A few weeks later, Coleman affirmed her position and posted to her blog an Atlantic article, "Consider the Possibility that Trump is Right on China."[35]

Endorsements

In her Republican primary campaign for Utah's 4th Congressional District, Coleman received endorsements from Paul Gosar, Stephen Moore, Andy Biggs, and Jim Jordan. She has also received the support of several Utah-based legislators, mayors, and city councilors, including the county commissioners of 15 of Utah's counties.[36] Mia Love, who held the seat from 2015 to 2019, also endorsed Coleman.[37]

Coleman was supported by the House Freedom Fund, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, the Libertas Institute, Americans for Prosperity, NRCC Young Guns, Freedomworks, Right Women PAC, American Conservative Union, the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Republicans for National Renewal, and Pro-Life Utah.[38]

Coleman had an endorsement and A-rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund.[39]

Personal life

She lives in West Jordan, Utah, with her husband, Joel, and their five children.[40]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.facebook.com/kim.f.coleman
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2020-04-26 . 2020-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200416081857/https://www.kimforutah.com/about . live .
  3. Web site: Kim Coleman (R). Utah State Legislature. Salt Lake City, Utah. April 12, 2016. April 24, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424111828/http://le.utah.gov/house2/detail.jsp?i=COLEMK. live.
  4. Web site: Kim Coleman's Biography. April 12, 2016. Project Vote Smart. April 23, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423212508/http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/151555/kim-coleman#.Vw1RYRIrKYU. live.
  5. Web site: Utah Rep. Ben McAdams ranked 10th-most vulnerable House member in this year's elections. Deseret News. June 18, 2020. June 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200620085319/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/utah-rep-ben-mcadams-ranked-10th-most-vulnerable-house-member-in-this-year-s-elections/ar-BB13QEhe. live.
  6. Web site: About Kim Coleman. June 18, 2020. April 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200416081857/https://www.kimforutah.com/about. live.
  7. Web site: Meet Kim Coleman. 2020-08-24. Kim for Utah. en. 2020-09-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908174151/https://www.kimforutah.com/about. live.
  8. News: State Rep. Kim Coleman is running for Utah's 4th Congressional seat. Miller. Jessica. January 4, 2020. Salt Lake Tribune. June 18, 2020. June 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621102912/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/state-rep-kim-coleman-makes-it-official-shes-challenging-democrat-ben-mcadams-for-utahs-4th-congressional-seat/ar-BBYCbcL. live.
  9. Web site: Kim Coleman's Biography. Votesmart.org. June 18, 2020. June 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200619194225/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/151555/kim-coleman. live.
  10. Web site: About Kim Coleman. Monticello Academy. June 18, 2020. June 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200620134935/https://www.monticelloacademy.net/kim-coleman. live.
  11. Web site: 2019-03-18. CMD Continues to Throw Spotlight on Legislators Heralded by Secret Group. 2020-06-30. PR Watch. en. 2020-11-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108000959/https://www.prwatch.org/news/2019/03/13458/cmd-continues-throw-spotlight-legislators-heralded-secret-group. live.
  12. Web site: Utah employee had no constitutional right to continued employment. 2020-06-30. www.kmclaw.com. en-US. 2020-07-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20200703135752/https://www.kmclaw.com/publication-389. live.
  13. Web site: 2014 Election Results. Ballotpedia. April 12, 2016. May 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170525220449/https://ballotpedia.org/Utah_House_of_Representatives_District_42. live.
  14. Web site: Kim Coleman Legislative Page. Utah House of Representatives. April 12, 2016. April 24, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424111828/http://le.utah.gov/house2/detail.jsp?i=COLEMK. live.
  15. News: Utah Rep. Kim Coleman looks to bring conservative leadership to 4th District. Richards. Connor. May 19, 2020. Provo Daily Herald. https://web.archive.org/web/20200527035223/https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/utah-rep-kim-coleman-looks-to-bring-conservative-leadership-to-4th-district/article_48089860-9c69-58af-a5e1-c0c1e09d34dc.html. May 27, 2020. dead.
  16. http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0262.html HB0262
  17. Web site: HB0365. 2016-04-12. 2016-04-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20160421061210/http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0365.html. live.
  18. Web site: Donaldson. Sahalie. 2020-03-04. Committee approves bill addressing free speech in higher education. 2020-09-21. Deseret News. en. 2020-03-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20200305202659/https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/3/4/21164634/free-speech-kim-coleman-utah-legislator-utah-colleges-campus-civil-rights-discriminatory-harassment. live.
  19. Web site: Lawmakers advance bill pitched as university campus free speech protection. 2020-09-21. The Salt Lake Tribune. en-US. 2020-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20200925005016/https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/03/02/lawmakers-advance-bill/. live.
  20. Web site: Opinion. Guest. 2019-08-26. Letter to the Editor: President Trump's Campus Free Speech Executive Order is Needed. 2020-09-21. The Daily Utah Chronicle. 2020-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20200905214202/https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2019/08/26/openings-guest-opinion-president-trumps-campus-free-speech-executive-order-is-needed/. live.
  21. Web site: State Legislator of the Month – UT Rep. Kim Coleman. March 8, 2019. Utah House of Representatives. June 18, 2020. June 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200620093215/https://www.alec.org/article/state-legislator-of-the-month-ut-rep-kim-coleman/. live.
  22. Web site: HB0337. 2016-04-12. 2016-04-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20160420101034/http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0337.html. live.
  23. Web site: HB0353. 2020-06-18. 2020-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20200619131527/https://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0353.html. live.
  24. Web site: Winslow . Ben . Your guide to all the things the Utah State Legislature did to your life this year . Fox 13 . 9 March 2018 . 18 June 2020 . 29 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201029053839/https://www.fox13now.com/2018/03/09/your-guide-to-all-the-things-the-utah-state-legislature-did-to-your-life-this-year/ . live .
  25. News: Utah Police Quota Ban Passed. Moutsos. Eric. December 5, 2018. EricMoutsos.com. June 18, 2020. June 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621235813/https://www.ericmoutsos.com/utah-police-quota-ban-passed/. live.
  26. News: House approves allowing concealed gun permits for Utahns as young as 18. Davidson. Lee. February 22, 2017. Salt Lake Tribune. June 18, 2020. June 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200619032050/https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4967744&itype=CMSID&fullpage=1. live.
  27. News: House passes bill allowing 18-year-olds to conceal carry. Kessler. Mori. February 23, 2017. StGeorgeUtah.com. June 18, 2020. June 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621235813/https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2017/02/23/mgk-house-passes-bill-allowing-18-year-olds-to-conceal-carry/. live.
  28. News: House passes bill allowing 18-year-olds to conceal carry. Kessler. Mori. February 23, 2017. StGeorgeUtah.com. June 18, 2020. June 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621235813/https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2017/02/23/mgk-house-passes-bill-allowing-18-year-olds-to-conceal-carry/. live.
  29. News: State Rep. Kim Coleman is running for Utah's 4th Congressional seat. Salt Lake Tribune. 2020-02-16. 2020-02-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20200216075241/https://www.sltrib.com/news/2020/01/04/state-rep-kim-coleman/. live.
  30. Web site: Live: Utah State Primary Election Results (2020). June 30, 2020. July 1, 2020. The New York Times. July 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200702170617/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/30/us/elections/results-utah-primary-elections.html?action=click&module=ELEX_results&pgtype=Interactive&region=Navigation. live.
  31. Web site: UtahPolicy.com. Guest opinion: Even when McAdams votes against Pelosi's far-left agenda, he's still voting for it. Kim Coleman. May 21, 2020. May 23, 2020. September 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924183509/https://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/23904-guest-opinion-even-when-mcadams-votes-against-pelosi-s-far-left-agenda-he-s-still-voting-for-it. live.
  32. Web site: America must end its reliance on Communist China for essential goods. kimforutah.com. Kim Coleman campaign. June 18, 2020. August 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804084343/https://www.kimforutah.com/america_must_end_its_reliance_on_communist_china_for_essential_goods. live.
  33. News: Utah lawmaker accused of racism for blaming coronavirus on Chinese communists. Richards. Connor. March 20, 2020. The Salt Lake Tribune. June 18, 2020. April 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200414083551/https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/03/19/utah-lawmaker-accused/. live.
  34. News: Frances Floresca: It is not racist to call it the 'Chinese virus'. Floresca. Frances. April 2, 2020. The Salt Lake Tribune. June 18, 2020. June 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200619144547/https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2020/04/02/frances-floresca-it-is/. live.
  35. Web site: What if Trump is right on China?. kimforutah.com. Kim Coleman campaign. June 18, 2020. June 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200620212720/https://www.kimforutah.com/what_if_trump_is_right_on_china. live.
  36. Web site: Endorsements. kimforutah.com. Kim Coleman campaign. June 18, 2020. August 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200805223438/https://www.kimforutah.com/endorsements. live.
  37. News: Mia Love endorses Kim Coleman in 4th Congressional District primary. Roche. Lisa. May 27, 2020. Deseret News. June 18, 2020. June 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621105212/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mia-love-endorses-kim-coleman-in-4th-congressional-district-primary/ar-BB14FTGR. live.
  38. Web site: Endorsements. kimforutah.com. Kim Coleman campaign. June 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200805223438/https://www.kimforutah.com/endorsements. August 5, 2020. live.
  39. Web site: NRA-PVF Grades Utah . nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. June 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200622040630/www.nrapvf.org/grades/utah. June 22, 2020. usurped.
  40. Web site: Kim Coleman Campaign Website. April 12, 2016. April 24, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424062212/http://www.kimcoleman4utah42.com/get_to_know_kim. live.

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