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Candidate Resigns Amid Controversy Over Parkland Comments

by Associated Press

   SOUTHINGTON, CONNECTICUT --

   A Republican candidate for Connecticut's General Assembly has withdrawn
   following criticism over comments he made online about victims of the
   school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

   Steven Baleshiski, a 22-year-old college student from Southington, had
   been challenging six-term state Rep. Joe Aresimowicz for a House seat.

   The Hartford Courant reports the Republican town committees for
   Southington and Berlin withdrew their endorsements of Baleshiski before
   he resigned. The two committees said they do not condone Baleshiski's
   "hurtful and dividing behavior." Committee chairs said they are looking
   for a new candidate.

   In a social media post in March, Baleshiski said a survivor of the
   Parkland shooting who turned to gun-control advocacy "can burn in
   hell."

   Baleshiski did not respond to a request for comment from the newspaper.