One legislator took a special interest in her.
It started as a bet on a basketball game. Kansas state Sen. Jim Barone bet her dinner that his alma mater, Pittsburg State University, would whip Washburn. But Washburn won the January 26 game, 76-61. Barone wanted to pay up.
Barone — a chubby, graying and balding anti-choice, pro-gun Democrat from Frontenac, Kansas — wasn't just being friendly. The then-63-year-old was in his eighth year as a lawmaker. In that time, he'd earned a reputation for latching on to pretty young women at the Capitol. Barone asked for the intern's cell phone number, and she gave it to him. She didn't think a senator 41 years her senior would call her. But Barone called — often.
He'd call and leave messages for her saying she could call him at any hour; he'd be up all night. Barone called one evening in the waning days of the session. He wanted to get together with the intern. She had gone out for drinks with co-workers at Terry's Bar and Grill in Topeka, a hot spot for lawmakers and statehouse staff during the session. She laughed when she saw Barone's name on her caller ID, but she was "a little freaked out," says a senior Senate staffer who was with the woman that evening.
"She was laughing, but she thought it was going too far," according to the senior Senate staffer.
Barone told her he was going to stop by Terry's because he had a present for her, homemade wine from southeast Kansas. She didn't want to meet him. But, finally, she gave in.
"We have to be very discreet," Barone told her.
Discreet meant that the married Barone would give the wine to the intern outside the bar.
The young woman told her co-workers to stay inside the bar while she fetched the wine. Barone dropped off the bottle, and the woman returned to the bar. But the young woman's co-workers had seen enough.
"When he starts calling an intern and making unwanted advances," a co-worker who was at Terry's that night tells the Pitch, "that's when it crosses the line."
The 22-year-old intern wasn't the first allegation of harassment against Barone. The Pitch has learned of at least two other instances, dating back to Gov. Bill Graves' administration.
But his problems don't end there. The senator has used his position to get one of his sons out of legal trouble and to protect another son's lobbying interests. Barone's harassment of women and his abuse of power have led members of his own party to remove him from prominent positions in the Senate and to publicly question his ability to serve. The gift exchange was the last straw for a senior Senate staffer, who reported Barone to Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley later that session.
"I have never gone to the minority leader to do anything like that before, but because I was familiar with Barone's reputation, and because I felt this particular intern was vulnerable and naïve, I thought, I'm going to put a stop to this," the staff member tells the Pitch. "The bottom line is, what was he doing asking an intern for her phone number? What was he doing calling and leaving messages for her? That right there is incredibly questionable behavior."
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Barone was dumped by SE area Kansas voters in the 2008 Democratic primary.
He was one of only two Democratic senators taking money from the Koch brothers. The other was his close ally, ethically challenged Chris Steineger.
wow this guy is nuts, I mean was the situation really that serious to call these people and curse at them because the man he needed was unavailable. I hope there wasn't any trouble within the hospital. That is the last thing a hospital needs is more distractions. It is bad enough that staff have problems receiving pages on time. My hospital just got a new system from www.tun-keytechnologies.com and it works great and we don't have any craZY men coming in demanding to speak with people.
wow this guy is nuts, I mean was the situation really that serious to call these people and curse at them because the man he needed was unavailable. I hope there wasn't any trouble within the hospital. That is the last thing a hospital needs is more distractions. It is bad enough that staff have problems receiving pages on time. My hospital just got a new system from www.tun-keytechnologies.com and it works great and we don't have any craZY men coming in demanding to speak with people.
I won't condone Sen. Barone's behavior. He was notoriously obnoxious when I worked at the capital. But I have to say, I think his behavior is typical of many legislators (particularly the married, older, heavier ones). It's like they think "What Happens in Topeka, Stays in Topeka." The unfortunate reality for young single females is that KS politics is not a welcome place - from experience I know they don't take you seriously. It is difficult when you 'need' the support of someone, and they are saying truly offensive things about what they would like to do to or with you while you are trying to talk business. I suppose it is the same everywhere, but in this day and age, isn't it a shame? Sorry Senator, it's not personal, but you (and many of your friends) are a creep.
P.S. When Sen. Barone asked me for my number, I told him I was rarely home to answer, and suggested he use my pager number instead (okay, it was several years ago, I had a pager). He never paged me, thankfully.
Dorthy
I won't condone Sen. Barone's behavior. He was notoriously obnoxious when I worked at the capital. But I have to say, I think his behavior is typical of many legislators (particularly the married, older, heavier ones). It's like they think "What Happens in Topeka, Stays in Topeka." The unfortunate reality for young single females is that KS politics is not a welcome place - from experience I know they don't take you seriously. It is difficult when you 'need' the support of someone, and they are saying truly offensive things about what they would like to do to or with you while you are trying to talk business. I suppose it is the same everywhere, but in this day and age, isn't it a shame? Sorry Senator, it's not personal, but you (and many of your friends) are a creep. P.S. When Sen. Barone asked me for my number, I told him I was rarely home to answer, and suggested he use my pager number instead (okay, it was several years ago, I had a pager). He never paged me, thankfully. Dorthy
The women in the story probably don't want their names posted because they're embarrassed that they didn't know what Barone was after from the get-go. It always sucks being the last to know. I met the guy three years ago. He walked into the room, stared directly at my legs and said immediately, "If you ever need a job, just give me a call." He didn't look up once! The guy's sleazy.
The women in the story probably don't want their names posted because they're embarrassed that they didn't know what Barone was after from the get-go. It always sucks being the last to know. I met the guy three years ago. He walked into the room, stared directly at my legs and said immediately, "If you ever need a job, just give me a call." He didn't look up once! The guy's sleazy.
This seems like a non-story, since a laughable number of "sources" are going unnamed. But judging from the stories included in this publication, it doesn't seem particularly attuned to the conventions of respectable journalism.
And wow...A politician uses his position to flirt with girls, seek financial opportunities, and take care of his family as well as his constituents? What a novelty for American governance.
I think what IS interesting, however, are the motives for dragging Sen. Barone and his family through the mire.
In any case, no one seems to have "won" in this situation.
This seems like a non-story, since a laughable number of "sources" are going unnamed. But judging from the stories included in this publication, it doesn't seem particularly attuned to the conventions of respectable journalism. And wow...A politician uses his position to flirt with girls, seek financial opportunities, and take care of his family as well as his constituents? What a novelty for American governance. I think what IS interesting, however, are the motives for dragging Sen. Barone and his family through the mire. In any case, no one seems to have "won" in this situation.
It is not surprising that this sort of thing is going on regarding state senators. I worked for the state of KS at KUMC for 42 years, the last twenty seven in the Department of Otolarynglogy (ENT). I retired in 1995. This stuff was going on back then. Whenever a stae senator called for an appointment for any reason, he was usually accomodated (the Budget, you know. Not only the sate people but Wyandotte County elewctorate and people of note were also accomodated. There wer times thwhen they were assigned "habdlers" to ease their way through the system. Mayor Jack Reardon of KCK (father of present mayor) was a patient at KU. I can remember when an out of state polititian clled requesting that his "missionary daughter's bill be cancelled because she was (poor). The more things change, the more they stay the same.
It is not surprising that this sort of thing is going on regarding state senators. I worked for the state of KS at KUMC for 42 years, the last twenty seven in the Department of Otolarynglogy (ENT). I retired in 1995. This stuff was going on back then. Whenever a stae senator called for an appointment for any reason, he was usually accomodated (the Budget, you know. Not only the sate people but Wyandotte County elewctorate and people of note were also accomodated. There wer times thwhen they were assigned "habdlers" to ease their way through the system. Mayor Jack Reardon of KCK (father of present mayor) was a patient at KU. I can remember when an out of state polititian clled requesting that his "missionary daughter's bill be cancelled because she was (poor). The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Sen. Barone has harassed many in Crawford Co. This is old news here. It just amazes me that it has taken so long to come out. More and More women are now talking about his preditory actions.
Sen. Barone has harassed many in Crawford Co. This is old news here. It just amazes me that it has taken so long to come out. More and More women are now talking about his preditory actions.
Is this article supposed to be neutral? Because it is obvious that the reporter is VERY biased and makes no attempt to hide it, which causes me to be extremely suspicious of the conclusions reached.
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