Kim Coleman

Kim Coleman[3] (born July 11, 1967) is an American politician serving as a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives, representing District 42 since January 1, 2015.[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.

Kim Coleman
Member of the Utah House of Representatives
from the 42nd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2015
Preceded byJim Bird
Personal details
Born
Kim Fitzpatrick[1]

(1967-07-11) July 11, 1967[1]
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Joel Coleman
Children5[2]
ResidenceWest Jordan, Utah, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Utah (BA)

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 later served as 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.[11][12][13]

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.[14]

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.[15][16]

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.[17] She described this as an instance where she sought to "vote along my principles and the values of my community and my constituents."[18]

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[19] and Campus Free Expression Act.[20][21][22][23] 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."[24]

Overturning the Obama administration's "zero tolerance" policies regarding sexual assault on campus, Coleman advanced the Student Right to Active Counsel,[25] 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.[26]

Gun rights, police reform, and public safety

Coleman was the House sponsor of a bill designed to ban police quotas in citations and arrests,[27] which led to the disclosure from many police officers that they were required to issue a certain amount of tickets.[28]

When the Utah Legislature considered legislation to allow adults ages 18 to 20 to get concealed carry permits, Coleman was a leading co-sponsor. 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.[29][30] 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.[31]

Raw milk

In the 2020 session, Coleman sponsored HB 134 to expand raw milk sales, allowing permit holders to sell raw milk cream and butter, whereas before only raw milk could be sold. It cleared both the Utah House and Senate unanimously, and was then signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert.[32] RealMilk.com wrote, "The passage of HB 134 comes at a time when, with the Covid-19 situation, demand for food direct from the farm is soaring. Legal raw butter and cream will move more of the food dollar to where it belongs–at the farms producing some of the safest, most nutrient-dense foods available."[33]

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.[34][35]

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 House seat, challenging Democratic incumbent Ben McAdams.[36] She won the Utah state Republican convention in April 2020 with 55% of the delegate vote. She went on to compete in a four-way primary with second-place finisher Burgess Owens, Jay McFarland, and Trent Christensen, the latter two of whom collected enough signatures to qualify regardless of the convention outcome.[37] On June 30, 2020, Coleman lost to Owens, earning 24% of the vote. Owens won with 43% of the vote.[38]

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."[39]

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?"[40]

The Salt Lake Tribune reported on criticism of her blog post, with some commentators calling it "racist."[41] 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."[42]

A few weeks later, she affirmed her position and posted to her blog an Atlantic article, "Consider the Possibility that Trump is Right on China."[43]

Endorsements

Coleman received endorsements from U.S. Representative Paul Gosar, Trump administration economic advisor Stephen Moore, U.S. Representative Andy Biggs, and U.S. Representative Jim Jordan. She has also received the support of a number of Utah-based legislators, mayors, and city councilors, including the county commissioners of 15 of Utah's counties.[44]

Mia Love, who held the seat prior to losing to McAdams by 0.2% of the vote in 2018, also endorsed Coleman.[45]

She has the support of 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 List, Republicans for National Renewal, and Pro-Life Utah.[46]

Coleman has an endorsement and A-rating from the National Rifle Association.[47]

Personal life

She lives in West Jordan, Utah, with her husband, Joel, and their five children.[48]

References
  3. "Kim Coleman (R)". Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Legislature. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  4. "Kim Coleman's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  5. "Utah Rep. Ben McAdams ranked 10th-most vulnerable House member in this year's elections". Deseret News. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  6. "About Kim Coleman". Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  7. "Meet Kim Coleman". Kim for Utah. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  8. Miller, Jessica (January 4, 2020). "State Rep. Kim Coleman is running for Utah's 4th Congressional seat". Salt Lake Tribune.
  9. "Kim Coleman's Biography". Votesmart.org. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  10. "About Kim Coleman". Monticello Academy. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  11. "About Kim Coleman". Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  12. "CMD Continues to Throw Spotlight on Legislators Heralded by Secret Group". PR Watch. 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  13. "Utah employee had no constitutional right to continued employment". www.kmclaw.com. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  14. "2014 Election Results". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  15. "Kim Coleman Legislative Page". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  16. "About Kim Coleman". Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  17. Richards, Connor (May 19, 2020). "Utah Rep. Kim Coleman looks to bring conservative leadership to 4th District". Provo Daily Herald.
  18. Richards, Connor (May 19, 2020). "Utah Rep. Kim Coleman looks to bring conservative leadership to 4th District". Provo Daily Herald.
  19. http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0262.html HB0262
  20. http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0365.html
  21. Donaldson, Sahalie (2020-03-04). "Committee approves bill addressing free speech in higher education". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  22. "Lawmakers advance bill pitched as university campus free speech protection". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  23. Opinion, Guest (2019-08-26). "Letter to the Editor: President Trump's Campus Free Speech Executive Order is Needed". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  24. "State Legislator of the Month – UT Rep. Kim Coleman". Utah House of Representatives. March 8, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  25. http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0337.html
  26. https://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0353.html
  27. Winslow, Ben. "Your guide to all the things the Utah State Legislature did to your life this year". Fox 13. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  28. Moutsos, Eric (December 5, 2018). "Utah Police Quota Ban Passed". EricMoutsos.com.
  29. Davidson, Lee (February 22, 2017). "House approves allowing concealed gun permits for Utahns as young as 18". Salt Lake Tribune.
  30. Kessler, Mori (February 23, 2017). "House passes bill allowing 18-year-olds to conceal carry". StGeorgeUtah.com.
  31. Kessler, Mori (February 23, 2017). "House passes bill allowing 18-year-olds to conceal carry". StGeorgeUtah.com.
  32. Maharrey, Michael (May 19, 2020). "Now In Effect: Utah Law Expands Raw Milk Sales, Rejects Federal Prohibition Scheme". Natural Blaze. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  33. "Raw Butter and Raw Cream Sales Now Legal in Utah". RealMilk.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  34. "Kim Coleman Legislative Page". Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  35. "About Kim Coleman". Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  36. "State Rep. Kim Coleman is running for Utah's 4th Congressional seat". Salt Lake Tribune.
  37. Richards, Connor (May 19, 2020). "Utah Rep. Kim Coleman looks to bring conservative leadership to 4th District". Provo Daily Herald.
  38. "Live: Utah State Primary Election Results (2020)". The New York Times. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  39. Kim Coleman (May 21, 2020). "Guest opinion: Even when McAdams votes against Pelosi's far-left agenda, he's still voting for it". UtahPolicy.com.
  40. "America must end its reliance on Communist China for essential goods". kimforutah.com. Kim Coleman campaign. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  41. Richards, Connor (March 20, 2020). "Utah lawmaker accused of racism for blaming coronavirus on Chinese communists". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  42. Floresca, Frances (April 2, 2020). "Frances Floresca: It is not racist to call it the 'Chinese virus'". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  43. "What if Trump is right on China?". kimforutah.com. Kim Coleman campaign. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  44. "Endorsements". kimforutah.com. Kim Coleman campaign. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  45. Roche, Lisa (May 27, 2020). "Mia Love endorses Kim Coleman in 4th Congressional District primary". Deseret News.
  46. "Endorsements". kimforutah.com. Kim Coleman campaign. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  47. "Utah". nrapvf.org. National Rifle Association. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  48. "Kim Coleman Campaign Website". Retrieved April 12, 2016.
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