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Columbus, OH –  Over the last six months, Frank LaRose has proved he’s not working for Ohioans. After putting himself at the center of the failed August special election and rewriting the November abortion ballot language to “intentionally mislead” voters, LaRose is being called out for confusing and silencing Ohioans. Now, LaRose is being slammed again for putting his political ambitions first and promising to overrule Ohioans by voting for a national abortion ban even if the November amendment passes. 

Cincinnati Enquirer: Political stunts prove LaRose not working for most Ohioans 

By Veronica Strevel

September 19, 2023

• Frank LaRose has made one thing abundantly clear over the past six months: He’s not working for the majority of Ohioans.

• First, it was Issue 1 in August. LaRose put himself squarely behind this amendment and became the chief campaigner for an effort designed to benefit special interests and silence Ohioans by essentially killing any possibility of citizen-led ballot initiatives passing in Ohio.

• He lost. Resoundingly. You’d think LaRose would have taken the hint the first time around, but he clearly doesn’t care and isn’t listening.

• But then − in a slap in the face to all Ohioans, let alone the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who signed on to that language − LaRose abused his elected office by recently rewriting the language voters will see when they enter the voting booth this November.

• And worst of all, LaRose has already promised to overrule Ohioans if we protect reproductive rights this fall and he is elected to the Senate by voting for a national abortion ban.

• LaRose’s actions have made it abundantly clear he’s not working for us. He’s trying to get ahead and help himself and his political career − and he doesn’t care who stands in his way. LaRose will be remembered by his actions this August and November and who he fought for. One thing is clear: It’s not Ohioans.

• LaRose won’t be able to outrun his disregard for the voters he should be working for. He would be wise to remember that we deserve to be respected and heard.

See also: What Ohioans Are Saying: “Shame On LaRose for Silencing Ohioans”; ICYMI: “Ethics Red Flags” Go Up as Frank LaRose’s “Ability to Do that Job Impartially Has Been Called into Question” [Ohio Capital Journal]; One Year After National Abortion Ban Introduced, Here’s A Reminder That #OHSEN Field Supports Abortion Bans; Frank LaRose Called Out for Putting “Thumb on the Scale of Fairness – Again” After Rewriting November Ballot Language; Shot, Chaser, Lime: Frank LaRose Tries to Silence, Overrule Ohioans *Again*; Frank LaRose Slammed for “Trying to Stack the Deck” Against Ohioans; Frank LaRose “Twists” Ballot Language to “Confuse,” “Deceive” Ohioans

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Columbus, OH –  Since putting himself at the center of the failed August special election and rewriting the November abortion ballot language, LaRose has been called out by Ohioans for misleading and silencing Ohioans ahead of the November election. Now, LaRose is being slammed for his promise to overrule Ohioans and vote for a national abortion ban even if the November amendment passes. 

The Vindicator: Don’t let LaRose silence Ohioans in the US Senate

Bethany Double, Farmdale

September 17, 2023

• Secretary of State Frank LaRose does not care about the people of Ohio. He spearheaded the August special election to make it harder to pass the abortion amendment in November — and he failed. Ohioans used their right to vote to share their opinions, but LaRose doesn’t care.

• He rewrote the ballot language for the abortion amendment in an attempt to confuse and trick voters. Shame on him. LaRose is using his role as Ohio Secretary of State to push his own agenda, and he will do the same if he is elected to the U.S. Senate.

• We cannot forget he has openly voiced his support for a national abortion ban. He does not care what Ohioans want and would override us if he goes to the Senate.

• Shame on LaRose for silencing Ohioans. We can’t let him get away with this in November.

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Columbus, OH – The #OHSEN field had their hands full this week as more jabs were thrown and more questions were raised about LaRose’s latest scandal: moving his official Secretary of State office to the same building as his campaign – costing taxpayers $600,000.

Here’s what you missed this week in what has already been called one of the “messiest, “most expensive” and “bruising” primary battles in the country.

MORE JABS THROWN IN #OHSEN SLUGFEST

This slugfest is as nasty as ever as more jabs were thrown this week. Frank LaRose, during an official press conference, took a shot at his opponents, claiming: “I’m not sure it’s a very competitive primary. I’m the clear frontrunner in that election.”

MORE QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT LAROSE’S LATEST SCANDAL

LaRose owes Ohioans answers about his decision to move the Secretary of State Office – for the first time in nearly 20 years – to the same building as his Senate Campaign, a move that is costing taxpayers $600,000. 

LaRose claimed that his decision to move the Ohio Secretary of State’s office to the same building that currently houses his campaign is “completely incidental,” but his office has failed to provide a detailed reason for why, of the hundreds of other buildings in the Columbus area and the three other buildings considered for the move, this building was chosen.  

While LaRose dodges questions, it’s becoming more and more clear that he will do whatever it takes to advance his political career, regardless of how much it hurts – or costs – Ohioans.

READ / WATCH / LISTEN TO MORE:

WTVN: “Democrats questioning a move today by Ohio Secretary of State. Frank LaRose is relocating his state office into the same building that houses his campaign. LaRose is running for Senate in Ohio and says this move will save $11,000 a year in rent but the cost of relocating his office is $600,000 up front so it would take over 50 years to recover that money.”

Ohio Capital Journal: “As secretary of state, LaRose is Ohio’s top elections administrator. His ability to do that job impartially has been called into question for several reasons.” 

WCMH: “[Frank LaRose’s] new office location will be at the same address he filed his Senate campaign run under with the Federal Election Commission and it will cost $600,000 taxpayer dollars to ready the new office for that move… NBC4 has asked his campaign several times, this and last week, to confirm whether LaRose has done any campaign interviews from that address. They have not yet responded to that question.”

WCMH: “[LaRose’s] staffers say they considered three other buildings. NBC4 asked why none of those were chosen, but we have not heard back.”

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Delaney Marsco, senior legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center on Frank LaRose: “That’s where my ethics red flags would go up… There’s a real concern about co-mingling the official business that he’s supposed to be doing on behalf of all people of Ohio and then the work that he’s doing as a candidate for Senate.”

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LaRose’s Decision to Move the Secretary of State Office to His Campaign HQ Wastes Thousands in Taxpayer Dollars

Columbus, OH –  In case you missed it, new reporting from the Ohio Capital Journal raises a number of questions surrounding Frank LaRose’s decision to move the Ohio Secretary of State office to the same building as his current campaign HQ. This move is the latest scandal that makes clear LaRose is looking out for his own political ambitions at the expense of Ohio taxpayers.

While LaRose claims the move would save taxpayer dollars due to cheaper rent, in reality, it would take until 2077 to recoup the $600,000 in taxpayer dollars his move is wasting.  

Delaney Marsco, senior legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center: “That’s where my ethics red flags would go up… There’s a real concern about co-mingling the official business that he’s supposed to be doing on behalf of all people of Ohio and then the work that he’s doing as a candidate for Senate.”

Ohio Capital Journal: “Meanwhile, housing the office that runs Ohio elections in the same building where part of LaRose’s campaign operation is located begs some serious questions about whether state election administrators will appear impartial in the heat of a contested primary.” 

“Frank LaRose’s latest scandal is growing and Ohio taxpayers are paying the bill for his scheme to move the Secretary of State office to the same building as his campaign,” said ODP Spokesperson Reeves Oyster. “Ohioans aren’t buying LaRose’s excuses or his phony math as it becomes clearer every day that LaRose will do whatever it takes to advance his political career, regardless of how much it hurts – or costs – Ohioans.”

Read / Watch More:

Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio Sec. of State LaRose’s office move amid U.S. Senate candidacy raises ethical questions

Marty Schladen

September 15, 2023

• Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has decided it’s a good idea to both oversee Ohio’s U.S. Senate election as the state’s chief elections officer and house part of his campaign for the seat in the same building. But the arrangement, which LaRose has done little to explain, raises serious questions about potential conflicts of interest and other ethical problems, an expert said last week.

• As secretary of state, LaRose is Ohio’s top elections administrator. His ability to do that job impartially has been called into question for several reasons.

• And this week, LaRose made another justification that strains credulity. He claimed the move would save taxpayer dollars, WCMH reported. The new lease is reportedly $11,000 a year less than the existing one, but the move is expected to cost $600,000. Given those numbers, the move won’t pay for itself until 2077.

• Meanwhile, housing the office that runs Ohio elections in the same building where part of LaRose’s campaign operation is located begs some serious questions about whether state election administrators will appear impartial in the heat of a contested primary.

• Delaney Marsco is senior legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center. She said LaRose should already be watching his step as he simultaneously serves as the state’s top elections officer and runs for Senate. “The idea of him running for Senate at the same time he is secretary of state should make him a little bit cautious about how he uses his time, how he uses his staff time,” she said, adding that the situation becomes more delicate because LaRose is moving his state office to a building that houses aspects of his campaign. “That’s where my ethics red flags would go up… There’s a real concern about co-mingling the official business that he’s supposed to be doing on behalf of all people of Ohio and then the work that he’s doing as a candidate for Senate.”

• Last month, after the failure of LaRose’s attempt to make voter-initiated constitutional amendments almost impossible, the Libertarian Party of Ohio filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. It accused him of violating the Hatch Act, the law prohibiting the use of federal resources for political activities.

• Meanwhile, answers about the validity of the reasons LaRose gave for the move are hard to come by.

• Such questions could have been avoided if LaRose had chosen to locate elsewhere, said Marsco, the ethics counsel with the Campaign Legal Center. “Listen, I went to law school in Columbus, I’m from Northern Ohio,” she said. “There’s really no shortage of office space in the city.”

WTVN: “Democrats questioning a move today by Ohio Secretary of State. Frank LaRose is relocating his state office into the same building that houses his campaign. LaRose is running for Senate in Ohio and says this move will save $11,000 a year in rent but the cost of relocating his office is $600,000 up front so it would take over 50 years to recover that money.”

WATCH HERE

WCMH: “[LaRose’s] staffers say they considered three other buildings. NBC4 asked why none of those were chosen, but we have not heard back.”

WCMH: Secretary of state moves offices for the first time in nearly two decades

Natalie Fahmy

September 7, 2023

• The secretary of state is moving offices for the first time in nearly two decades – at least. A spokesperson for the secretary of state said the search for a new building was prompted because their current lease is ending.

• Right now, the office is on 180 E. Broad Street, but they are making a move to a new building on Civic Center Drive. It is the same address that Secretary of State Frank Larose (R-Ohio) lists for his U.S. Senate campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission. 

• The move to the new building will cost $400,000 up front, in taxpayer dollars, to “to prepare and ready the space for the Office of the Secretary of State.” Plus, an additional $200,000 over the next two years for that same purpose.

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LaRose’s Excuses Don’t Add Up

Columbus, OH –  Frank LaRose is facing more questions today for his decision to move the Ohio Secretary of State office to the same building as his current campaign HQ, as taxpayers foot a steep $600,000 bill for his decision. LaRose has offered no logical explanation for his decision and media outlets across the state are raising more questions about the move LaRose claims is “completely incidental.”

LaRose claimed the move would save taxpayer dollars due to cheaper rent of $11,000 a year, but his math doesn’t add up. 

WTVN: “Democrats questioning a move today by Ohio Secretary of State. Frank LaRose is relocating his state office into the same building that houses his campaign. LaRose is running for Senate in Ohio and says this move will save $11,000 a year in rent but the cost of relocating his office is $600,000 up front so it would take over 50 years to recover that money.”

“Frank LaRose’s latest scandal is growing and Ohio taxpayers are paying the bill for his scheme to move the Secretary of State office to the same building as his campaign,” said ODP Spokesperson Reeves Oyster. “Ohioans aren’t buying LaRose’s excuses or his phony math as it becomes clearer every day that LaRose will do whatever it takes to advance his political career, regardless of how much it hurts – or costs – Ohioans.”

WATCH MORE FROM WCMH HERE

Key Points:

• “[Frank LaRose] is responding to a story NBC4’s Natalie Fahmy brought you last week about him moving his state office. His new office location will be at the same address he filed his Senate campaign run under with the Federal Election Commission and it will cost $600,000 taxpayer dollars to ready the new office for that move…”

• “LaRose says his campaign attorneys being in the same building as his official state office is purely coincidental.”

• Frank LaRose: “[The campaign office] happens to be in the same building that our new building is going to be in, but that is completely incidental…”

• “NBC4 has asked his campaign several times, this and last week, to confirm whether LaRose has done any campaign interviews from that address. They have not yet responded to that question.”

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