DOUGLAS COUNTY—Governor Laura Kelly is asking a member of the Kansas House of Representatives to resign after his weekend arrest for alleged DUI. Online records indicate that 21-year-old Aaron Coleman, who represents the state's 37th District, was jailed briefly Saturday in Douglas County for DUI. This is his second arrest since late October.
On Sunday night, Governor Kelly issued a statement on the arrest.
“Mr. Coleman’s most recent arrest is further evidence that he is not fit to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives and that his continued presence in the Legislature is a disservice to his constituents. He should resign immediately and seek the treatment that he needs. If he does not resign, the Legislature should use its process to remove him from office.”
Earlier this month, Coleman was charged with domestic battery in Johnson County after pushed, hit and spit on his 18-year-old brother in a fight that erupted because the brother was going to get baptized. The probable cause affidavit said Coleman of Kansas City was “uncooperative” with police during the Oct. 30 fight.
Coleman has acknowledged past abuses against girls and young women. And he took a temporary “leave of absence” earlier this month following a Johnson County district judge’s order that he undergo a mental health evaluation.
After the October arrest, House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer issued a statement urging Coleman to resign and calling his arrest “extremely disturbing.”
After he was elected last year, Coleman received a written reprimand from a legislative committee about his conduct before taking office. The House committee’s investigation of Coleman followed accusations of abusive behavior toward girls and young women. He acknowledged some of the behavior on social media and said he had been a troubled teenager.
Earlier this month, Coleman was also banned from the Kansas Department of Labor’s offices because the agency’s director said Coleman had tried to improperly gain entry to the department’s main office through a secured employee entry and berated a security officer.
At that time, Coleman said he was trying to help constituents deal with the state’s unemployment system.
-The AP contributed to this report