Three candidates are running in the Democratic primary for the 37th District, Kansas House.
Incumbent Rep. Aaron Coleman, a Democrat, faces primary opposition from Melissa Oropeza and Faith Rivera.
There is also one Republican running for the district, Diana Whittington.
The primary is Tuesday, Aug. 2, with advance voting currently taking place.
Rep. Coleman, age 21, faced opposition from his own party in the state Legislature after he won the last election over former Rep. Stan Frownfelter. Past alleged actions such as a revenge porn incident while he was a student, along with his words about a “hit” on the governor, which he said was misinterpreted, resulted in opposition from his party and not being assigned to committees. Coleman also had an alleged incident reported to police involving a dispute with his brother, and a trooper’s stop of him on I-70, where he allegedly did not pull over fast enough, also made the news.
Rep. Coleman could not be reached for this story.
According to information provided in the past by Rep. Coleman, he is a progressive who is a native of the Turner area. He was 19 years old when he won election as state representative. He had served as a Democratic precinct committeeman and in the Wyandotte County Young Democrats.
Coleman stated in 2020 that he wanted to bring a fresh view to the Legislature and to the issues that it considered. He stated he admired Sen. Bernie Sanders, and he wanted the state to work for all citizens.
In 2021, Rep. Coleman introduced a bill to reduce the penalties for drug possession.
Oropeza said she has been campaigning door-to-door, listening to constituents, and she would bring a new health care perspective to the district, along with being an advocate for the district.
Oropeza, 45, is a nurse practitioner in gastroenterology, and has been in the health care field for 23 years.
She attended Turner High School, received an associate degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas School of Nursing, received a master’s degree in nursing from KU, and received a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
“I am confident that with my educational background and professional insights, I can be a reliable and committed advocate for our 37th District and all of Kansas,” Oropeza stated.
Her top issues include health care and the expansion of Medicaid; giving every student the access to opportunity to advance their education or access to trade training; and support for the Kansas Promise scholarship, education at no cost to the student.
Oropeza also said she noticed in going door-to-door that constituents were talking about reducing gun violence, as well as the constitutional amendment on the ballot Aug. 2. She said she has encouraged people to educate themselves on the facts and make sure they are informed on the constitutional amendment.
She has continued her professional work and her advocacy in the field of nursing. She was appointed to the Kansas Board of Nursing in July 2021. Oropeza was recognized as the Nursing Advocate for Kansas in 2017 by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Oropeza ran unsuccessfully for the Board of Public Utilities in 2019. She said this campaign is different, as it is very focused on one district instead of the county at large, and it has been more labor intensive, going door-to-door.
She has been an at-large member of the Johnson County Democratic Women of Kansas, and a member of the Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast. She also has been a T-ball coach for more than 20 years at a park in the Armourdale area.
Oropeza stated she would like to preserve the diversity and cultural values that make Wyandotte County unique and prosperous.
“Solidifying and expanding these core values at the heart of Wyandotte County will help us to ensure safety and awareness within the community,” she stated.
“If elected, I will provide accountability and reliability for District 37 constituents as well as all of Kansas,” she stated.
According to campaign finance reports, Oropeza has received much of the financial support that is normally given to a Democratic incumbent for the state Legislature.
Faith Rivera, 43, said she has been knocking on doors and making phone calls, and her campaign has received some assistance from other officeholders in the area.
She said her top issues are defending women’s reproductive rights for all women; expanding Medicaid and health care access; raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour; and legalizing medical and recreational marijuana.
Rivera, a pharmacy technician, noted that there is a serious drug problem in the community. It has resulted in safety concerns for some employees.
She is well known as one of the persons who filed suit over the redistricting maps that split Wyandotte County into two parts.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” she said about the suit. She won in Wyandotte County and thought they would win at the state level, “but we learned so much,” she said.
“The biggest thing I learned is that there should be a nonpartisan third party that should be in charge of our redistricting,” Rivera said.
No one should be in charge of redistricting who has any ties or leadership role that would benefit from it, she said.
If elected, she will fight for redistricting reform in Kansas, she stated in her campaign information.
Rivera attended Bishop Miege High School and received her certification as an electrician at Kansas City Kansas Community College. She also studied at Johnson County Community College, in general studies, and has not yet completed that degree.
She ran unsuccessfully for the BPU in 2019, the same time that Oropeza ran for the BPU.
She also has volunteered with the Safe and Welcoming Coalition, and served on the parks and recreation board. She fought to keep Parkwood Pool open and also helped move the polling location from the South Patrol back to the Argentine Community Center. She also fought against the 24-hour Fitness center locating in the community center.
Rivera said that years ago, she was homeless for a while, living in her car, and she understands the challenges that single women face.
Rivera, who held rallies on the “vote no” position on the constitutional amendment, said she has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood. She supports the current Kansas abortion laws, and said she wants women to have a choice.
Rivera was instrumental in bringing to the limelight Rep. Coleman’s alleged involvement in revenge porn in his student years. She said that her kids were friends of some of the alleged victims.
“We need better representation here in Wyandotte County,” she said.
Rivera filed first for the 37th District, with other candidates filing months later.
The Republican candidate, Diana Whittington, does not have opposition in the primary election.
A retired teacher, Whittington stated in her questionnaire responses that she was the conservative, pro-life choice for like-minded people in District 37.
“I hope to bring life experience and common sense to the state house,” she stated.
Her three top issues included being more fiscally responsible during a time of high inflation and looking at how Kansans’ money is being spent in order to be efficient and effective, including lowering taxes if possible; parents having the right to decide upon the best education for their children; and support of law enforcement and first responders, looking at ways to lower the crime rate and investing in them, she stated in her questionnaire response.
Whittington previously ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2020 against Sen. Pat Pettey in the 6th District, and for 8th District Unified Government commissioner in 2021, which was won by Andrew Davis.
Campaign finance information
According to campaign finance reports, Oropeza received donations from several political action committees, including the KNEA, Building and Construction Trades Council PAC, Carpenters PAC, KC Bizpac and the International Association of Fire Fighters PAC.
She also received donations from three state legislators currently serving from Wyandotte County, and also a donation from former Rep. Stan Frownfelter, who held the 37th District seat before Rep. Coleman was elected. Oropeza reported receiving contributions of $7,381.26 during the latest reporting period, with cash on hand of $3,547.62 at the close of the period, July 21.
Rivera received mostly smaller donations from individuals, according to campaign finance reports. She did not receive larger PAC contributions. She reported contributions of $1,557 for the latest reporting period, with $3,107.32 cash on hand at the close of the period, July 21.
Rep. Coleman’s main contributions were a loan from himself of $6,000, according to campaign finance reports. He reported total contributions of $8,749.14 during the latest reporting period, with cash on hand of $856.88 at the close of the period, July 21.
Whittington reported receiving a contribution from Kevin Braun, a former state senator, of $500, according to campaign finance reports. She reported contributions of $1,450 during the reporting period, and cash on hand of $1,149.25 at the close of the period, July 21.
Voting details
Early voting in person is currently taking place in Wyandotte County, starting last Saturday.
Voting on Election Day, Aug. 2, is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at assigned polling places.
For more information about voting, see https://wyandotteonline.com/early-voting-in-person-starts-saturday/.
Visit the Wyandotte County Election Office website at wycovotes.org or call 913-573-8500 for more details on times and places to vote.
To see an updated map of Kansas House seat boundaries in Wyandotte County, and determine what district you are in, visit https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/election-office/kshouseofrep24x36clip.pdf. Some boundaries recently changed.
Registered voters also can learn their district number and see what will be on their ballot at Voter View, https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/VoterView.
Election stories in the Wyandotte Daily can be found by clicking on the Election 2022 tab or visiting https://wyandotteonline.com/category/election-2022/.
To reach Mary Rupert, editor, email [email protected].