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Columbus, OH – On day one in his new office, Ohioans are being reminded that Frank LaRose is wasting $600,000 in taxpayer funds to move his official office to the same building as his campaign HQ. Since initial reports on LaRose’s costly move published weeks ago, LaRose has been called out for “blur[ring] ethical lines,” raising “ethics red flags,” and “misusing taxpayer money.” Despite calls from media outlets, Ohio taxpayers, and lawmakers, LaRose has refused to answer questions about the costly move.

A refresher on *one* of LaRose’s many costly scandals:

• LaRose has been called out for months for moving his official Secretary of State office – which has been in the same building for nearly two decades – to the same building where his campaign is headquartered.

• The move will cost Ohioans $600,000 and will take taxpayers 54 years to recoup the costs associated.

• LaRose has refused to provide answers on the move and his unethical behavior despite calls from media outlets, public records requests from Ohio taxpayers, and questions from Ohio lawmakers.

• The Ohio Capital Journal showed that Frank LaRose “recorded a campaign interview that appeared to take place in the building where he is moving his taxpayer-funded state offices” potentially violating Ohio Ethics code by soliciting a campaign contribution from a taxpayer-funded building.

Here’s what Ohioans are saying about Frank LaRose “blur[ring] ethical lines:”

• Thomas Yeager, Air Force Veteran: “I was held to the highest ethical standards as a senior noncommissioned officer in the USAF. We should receive no less from our elected officials. LaRose needs to be held accountable for this string of unethical moves.”

• 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.”

• Mia Lewis of Common Cause Ohio: “You have to keep the campaign and the government work separate. Once those things start to blur, it becomes harder and harder for voters to trust their elected officials… [LaRose] seems to spend an incredible amount of his time putting his thumb on the scale of one issue or another…How are Ohioans supposed to trust you when you have so much trouble putting the voters first?”

• Armando Telles Marine Corps veteran: “I think Mr. LaRose is not being forthright about the intentions of the move, the timing of the move, let alone the exposures of the integrity of his office coincidentally being in the same building of his U.S. Senate (campaign) office.”

See also: NEW: Frank LaRose Caught Campaigning At Taxpayer Funded Office Amid Growing Scandal; Frank LaRose’s “Latest Political Controversy” Escalates, Ohioans Agree LaRose Misusing Taxpayer Funds; Frank LaRose Continues Dodging Questions From Ohioans, Media, and Lawmakers on Latest Scandal; Ohio Lawmakers Call On Frank LaRose To Answer for Latest Scandal Costing 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]; LaRose’s Math Not Adding Up as Taxpayers Cover Steep Cost to Move Secretary of State Office to His Campaign HQ; As Scandal Grows, LaRose’s “Answers” Just Raise More Questions About Steep Cost to Move Secretary of State Office to His Campaign HQ; A New Scandal For Frank LaRose: Taxpayers Foot Steep Bill to Move Secretary of State Office to Campaign HQ

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LaRose Owes Ohioans Answers After Refusing to Disclose Financial Information, Dodging Questions About Self-Funding $250,000 and Claiming To Be A “Thousandaire” 

Columbus, OH – Frank LaRose owes Ohioans answers after going thirteen days past the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee’s deadline to file his personal financial disclosure, making it clear he doesn’t think the rules apply to him.

Questions Frank LaRose must answer after refusing the follow the rules, self-funding $250,000, and withholding required financial disclosures:

• In July, you said “I’m the only one in the race that isn’t a millionaire…So I’m going to do this the old-fashioned way, the entrepreneurial way,” but you then self-funded $250,000 – what changed?

• You’ve mocked your opponents by calling them “rich guys [trying to] buy a [Senate] seat” and claiming to be the only “thousandaire” in this race, but you’ve dodged questions about self-funding your campaign $250,000 and blew past the November 14th deadline to disclose your own finances – why won’t you be transparent with Ohioans after you’ve attacked your opponents for their wealth?

• You oversee campaign finance compliance in Ohio, yet you are refusing to follow federal ethics rules and are thirteen days past the deadline to file your financial disclosure with the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee – why do you think the rules don’t apply to you?

What Ohioans are reading about LaRose believing the rules don’t apply to him: 

• Ohio Capital Journal: “Despite that 90-day reprieve, LaRose has yet to file. The Ohio Capital Journal reached out to his campaign to see if the report has been filed but not yet posted or if the campaign has requested a further extension. The campaign did not respond…LaRose’s failure to file thus far is particularly notable given a $250,000 personal loan he made to his campaign in September.”

• Heartland Signal: “Candidates are required to publicly disclose their finances within 30 days of announcing their candidacy. LaRose announced his run for Senate on July 17 and subsequently asked for an extension on his filing on Aug 9. Despite an extra 90 days, LaRose again blew past his deadline on Nov. 14.”

• Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for more information about the source of his loan, but it seems like a substantial sum given his current state salary income.” [10/20/23]

• Tribune Chronicle: “I questioned how LaRose could come up with $250,000 out of his pocket for his Senate campaign. But Ben Kindel, his campaign spokesman, didn’t respond to my numerous inquiries.” [10/20/23]

• Cleveland.com: “Secretary of State Frank LaRose has gently mocked his wealthy opponents in March’s Republican Senate primary election by referring to himself as a humble ‘thousandaire.’ But the public will have to wait for details that could shed more light on LaRose’s financial situation, as a federal deadline for a mandatory financial disclosure passed Tuesday without a report from LaRose.

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Columbus, OH – Today, the Ohio Democratic Party announced the full slate of candidates for the 2024 Supreme Court race. Justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly are running for re-election while Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes from Cleveland will run for election to the state’s highest court.   

   
Watch the official launch video HERE. 

“We couldn’t be more proud and excited to re-elect Justices Stewart and Donnelly and to elect Judge Forbes to Ohio’s Supreme Court. For far too long, Ohioans have had to endure a Court that puts politics over people and too often sides with corrupt legislators over working Ohioans. We’re fighting next year for justice, fairness and equality under the law for ALL Ohioans, not just the wealthy and well-connected, and we welcome all Ohioans to join us in that fight,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters. 

Ohioans can visit ohiodems.org/buildthebench to learn more. 

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LaRose Refuses to Meet Ethics Deadline, Dodges Questions About Self-Funding $250,000 After Claiming To Be A “Thousandaire” 

Columbus, OH – Frank LaRose has officially gone seven days past the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee’s deadline to file his personal financial disclosure, leaving Ohioans in the dark and making it clear he doesn’t think the rules apply to him. LaRose’s deceit surrounding his personal finances follows him dodging questions for weeks about self-funding $250,000 to his campaign while mocking his primary opponents by claiming to be the only “thousandaire” in the #OHSEN Slugfest.

“Every passing day, Frank LaRose makes it clearer he doesn’t believe the rules apply to him,” said ODP spokesperson Reeves Oyster.

What you need to know about Frank LaRose intentionally hiding his finances from Ohioans:

• First, Frank LaRose claimed “I’m the only one in the race that isn’t a millionaire. So I’m going to do this the old fashioned way.”

• Then, LaRose self-funded $250,000 to his campaign and “didn’t respond to…numerous inquiries” about the source of his loan.

• And now, after filing for an extension in August, Frank LaRose has violated the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee’s deadline to file his personal financial disclosure for seven days.

What Ohioans are reading about LaRose believing the rules don’t apply to him: 

• Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for more information about the source of his loan, but it seems like a substantial sum given his current state salary income.” [10/20/23]

• Tribune Chronicle: “I questioned how LaRose could come up with $250,000 out of his pocket for his Senate campaign. But Ben Kindel, his campaign spokesman, didn’t respond to my numerous inquiries.” [10/20/23]

• Cleveland.com: “Secretary of State Frank LaRose has gently mocked his wealthy opponents in March’s Republican Senate primary election by referring to himself as a humble ‘thousandaire.’ But the public will have to wait for details that could shed more light on LaRose’s financial situation, as a federal deadline for a mandatory financial disclosure passed Tuesday without a report from LaRose.

• Ohio Capital Journal: “Despite that 90-day reprieve, LaRose has yet to file. The Ohio Capital Journal reached out to his campaign to see if the report has been filed but not yet posted or if the campaign has requested a further extension. The campaign did not respond…LaRose’s failure to file thus far is particularly notable given a $250,000 personal loan he made to his campaign in September.”

• Heartland Signal: “Candidates are required to publicly disclose their finances within 30 days of announcing their candidacy. LaRose announced his run for Senate on July 17 and subsequently asked for an extension on his filing on Aug 9. Despite an extra 90 days, LaRose again blew past his deadline on Nov. 14.”

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Columbus, OH – The Ironton Tribune Editorial Board recently called out Bernie Moreno for refusing to work across the aisle if elected to the Senate, which would “do little to advance Ohioans interests” and only “add to the problem” in Washington. Moreno’s “reject[ion]” of bipartisanship stands in stark contrast to Sherrod Brown’s record of delivering for Ohioans and raises serious questions about Moreno’s interests.

Read more:

Ironton Tribune: A pledge for more partisanship? No thanks

Editorial Board 

November 18, 2023

• Incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown has similarly forged bipartisan relationships in the chamber, and has been instrumental in sponsoring and getting passed key legislation, whether it is the PACT Act, which provides benefits for veterans harmed by toxic burn pits, the CHIPS Act, which was needed for Intel’s huge new manufacturing plant in Ohio, or the rail safety legislation he is currently advocating.

• Brown’s ability to work with the other party has proven to be effective in producing legislation that benefits all Ohioans.  But compare that approach to one of those running to unseat the senator.

• Last month, the Republican candidates appeared at a forum for the Greater Akron Chamber, where they detailed their platforms. The candidates were asked a fairly typical question for such events — how they would work across the aisle and increase bipartisanship (one we at The Tribune also ask locally every election).

• Moreno’s answer was telling. The paper stated he rejected the premise of the question.

• If he thinks there is no need to work with the other party and he can magically get things accomplished, he is being naïve.

• In order to be productive in any capacity, Ohio’s U.S. senator is going to have to work with both parties.

• Being a loud partisan may make for flashy cable news clips or social media clicks, but it will do little to advance Ohioans interests if nothing gets passed.

• Far too often these days in our polarized society, politicians look more to become media celebrities, rather than effective legislators. And by ruling out the idea of cooperation, Moreno seems intent on adding to that problem. The last thing we need in our politics is more partisanship and stubbornness. 

• Next year, in the Senate race and others, the state will have to decide who can best advocate for it in the chamber and work to get things done by elevating debate, building alliances and moving legislation toward passage. Given his answer in Akron, it appears Moreno has no real interest in that.

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