[Rockingham]

Coleman came across as evasive and blustering, Beck as sincere but not quite closing in for the kill. Coleman no doubt thinks he won, but I rate Beck the winner on points.

In essence, Coleman insisted on filibustering and trying to hide behind the ongoing police investigation. In response, I wish that Beck had made and pressed the point that Coleman had a responsibility to address the policy issues raised by an instance of apparent teacher misconduct with a student and a lax response by the local school board.

One does not need to assume the guilt or innocence of the specific teacher involved in order to discuss what should be done when there is good reason for a school system to suspect misconduct. Preliminary or protective action for the good of the students does not presume guilt any more than a police investigation presumes guilt or a court presumes guilt when ordering a defendant to be held for trial. School systems and teacher unions -- and their political allies -- universally tend to be protective of school teachers and staff and to give them the benefit of the doubt instead of giving the highest priority to protecting students.

In context, Coleman's comments indicate that he sides with the teacher, the school system, and the unions against the best interests of the students. I know nothing whatever of Coleman or the incident beyond his exchange with Beck, but I hope Coleman suffers political defeat and a humiliating exit from public life.

[Toespi]

Downtown Columbus was a thriving and rejuvenated area after eight years of a Republican mayor. Coleman was elected and it has gone so far down hill that it will take years to come back.