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Why won’t LaRose give Ohioans the answers they deserve after costing them $600,000? 

Columbus, OH – Frank LaRose is still facing serious questions for his decision to put his political ambitions ahead of Ohioans by moving the Ohio Secretary of State office to the same building as his current campaign HQ. After a series of expensive missteps during the August special election, LaRose’s latest scandal is now costing taxpayers a steep $600,000 that will take Ohioans over 50 years to recoup.

The list of people waiting for answers on LaRose’s decision keeps growing. Thirteen state lawmakers have joined Ohioans and media outlets calling on LaRose to provide answers on his latest scandal.

Ohio Lawmakers: “Out of concern for our constituents, we are requesting additional information about the process you followed to identify a new location for the Secretary of State’s office. As elected officials, we owe Ohioans complete transparency into how their tax dollars are spent, especially when related to political campaigns.”

“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: Democrats ask LaRose to provide more information about moving his office to campaign headquarters

Megan Henry

September 28, 2023

• Thirteen Ohio Democratic lawmakers are asking Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose to provide more information about moving his office to the same location as his U.S. Senate campaign headquarters.

• Earlier this month, it was reported that LaRose is looking to move the secretary of state’s office from a building at 180 E. Broad Street, where it had been located for nearly 20 years, to a building at 200 Civic Center Drive — the same address he listed as his campaign address when he filed his candidacy for Senate with the Federal Election Commission.

• “Out of concern for our constituents, we are requesting additional information about the process you followed to identify a new location for the Secretary of State’s office,” the lawmakers wrote in their Wednesday letter to LaRose. “Despite your claims that your decision to move your official office to the same location as your Senate campaign is “completely incidental,” several key questions remain unanswered.”

• Will you provide the full details for the process for deciding to move the office, including how many properties – including their respective costs per square foot compared to the office space located at 200 Civic Center Drive – were considered?

• When did you make the decision to move your official office to 200 Civic Center Drive in relation to when you began thinking about running for Senate?

• Will you release all documentation from your office pertaining to your request to bypass the standard process to move the Secretary of State’s office to the same building as your Senate campaign?

• “As elected officials, we owe Ohioans complete transparency into how their tax dollars are spent, especially when related to political campaigns,” the letter said.

WSYX: LaRose asked to justify spending $600,000 on relocating his office

Darrel Rowland

September 28, 2023

• The latest political controversy in Columbus revolves around office space.

• Secretary of State Frank LaRose wants to move his office from North Fourth Street to 200 Civic Center Drive a few blocks away. Democrats point out that that space houses the attorneys for his U.S. senate campaign.

• Ohio Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, is pounding on LaRose for changing the location of the secretary of state’s leased office for the first time in decades. DeMora led 13 Democrats who sent a letter to LaRose this week, seeking justification for the move, which will cost $600,000. While the office gets a slight decrease in the lease rate, that initial outlay won’t be recovered until 2077, DeMora said.

• “We want some answers,” DeMora said. “I mean this is state money he’s spending to move. It’s a purview of Democratic legislators to ask him why you’re spending this money.”

• DeMora, a top operative of the Ohio Democratic party for years before taking office last year, said he thinks it’s hardly a coincidence that LaRose picked the building that houses his senate campaign’s legal adviser, Baker-Hostetler.

• “It doesn’t pass the smell test for any rational person,” DeMora said. “The secretary of state’s office, through Democrat and Republican secretary of states, has been in the same building for 20 years. And now all of a sudden Secretary LaRose decides, well, it has to be moved.”

• Neither LaRose nor anyone from his campaign would go on camera to respond to the Democrats’ concerns.

WCMH: Ohio Democrats question Secretary of State office move

Natalie Fahmy

September 26, 2023

• Democratic state lawmakers are questioning Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s decision to move his state office to the same building that his U.S. Senate campaign is filed under.

• Thirteen House and Senate Democrats have asked LaRose to disclose the timeline of deciding the move and the full details that led to the building being chosen.

• NBC4 was first to report on the move earlier this month, which will cost more than half a million dollars… LaRose previously said that the building is where his campaign lawyers are based and that it is purely “incidental” that his state office will be there now as well.

Toledo Blade: Ohio Secretary of State’s offenses pile up

Eric Haidet, Sylvania Township

September 28, 2023

• I feel like I can’t read the news anymore without seeing another new Secretary of State Frank LaRose scandal. How many times are we going to let this elected official manipulate us for his own personal gain?

• First, he made multiple mistakes in the August election, then he rewrote the ballot language for the November abortion amendment to be misleading and inaccurate, and now Mr. LaRose is moving his Secretary of State office to the same building as his campaign headquarters.

• I cannot understand how this is allowed. Isn’t this a conflict of interest?

• So we are essentially paying for Mr. LaRose to not serve us in the way he was elected to.

• I am disappointed in Mr. LaRose’s blatant disregard for Ohio voters. We need to hold him accountable.

Ironton Tribune: LaRose’s unethical move

Thomas Yeager

September 25, 2023

• I should have known better when LaRose, whose salary WE pay, announced his run for higher office this summer. And since launching his Senate campaign, LaRose has made a number of political moves that should cause concern for Ohioans.

• His latest unethical move is a bit more literal.

• It was reported that LaRose is moving the official Secretary of State office for the first time in nearly 20 years. Where, you might ask? The same building as LaRose’s Senate campaign headquarters. And the move isn’t cheap, LaRose’s decision to be closer to his political lackeys will cost taxpayers over half a million dollars.

• It’s long been clear that LaRose is more focused on advancing his political career than doing his job. But LaRose’s latest scandal shows there is no line he won’t cross if it helps him climb the political ladder.

• As Secretary of State, LaRose owes Ohioans some answers.

• Between moving office buildings, making himself the face of the August election, and now trying to mislead Ohioans by rewriting the November amendment ballot language, LaRose is not hiding his willingness to disrespect Ohioans in pursuit of advancing his own political ambitions.

• He is once again proving he does not care about us. He will violate our trust to benefit himself. He will cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a political promotion. He will try to trick us to push his own agenda. He will silence our voices.

• 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.

WATCH MORE FROM WCMH HERE

WATCH MORE FROM WSYX HERE

READ THE FULL LETTER FROM STATE LAWMAKERS HERE.

See also: Ohio Lawmakers Call On Frank LaRose To Answer for Latest Scandal Costing Ohioans; Frank LaRose’s “Latest Unethical Move Is a Bit More Literal”; 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; Frank LaRose Still Owes Ohioans Answers After Latest Scandal Surfaces;  A New Scandal For Frank LaRose: Taxpayers Foot Steep Bill to Move Secretary of State Office to Campaign HQ

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Columbus, OH – As Republican politicians in Washington hurtle us toward a government shutdown this weekend, it’s Ohio servicemembers, families and workers who will pay the price. While Ohio Democrats are doing their part to find solutions, Washington Republicans and politicians here in Ohio, like Bernie Moreno and Frank LaRose, seem dead set on shutting down the government. 

“Republican politicians in Washington and here at home are rooting for a government shutdown that would have devastating effects on working Ohioans, families and servicemembers. Our message to these politicians is clear: stop playing political games with the lives and well-being of Ohioans and do your damn jobs,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters. 

Here’s a sampling of the ways Ohioans will be hurt by a government shutdown:

• Put critical nutrition assistance at risk for 179,262 Ohioans, including 42,341 women, 93,119 children and 43,802 infants

• Put 6,800 active-duty servicemembers in Ohio at risk of not getting paid. 

• Delay 13 natural disaster relief projects in Ohio.

• The Small Business Administration would not review or approve any new business loans. 

• The Food and Drug Administration could be forced to pause food inspections on a wide variety of products. 

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would be forced to delay inspections that keep workers safe on the job. 

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Columbus, OH – This week, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters conducted a number of interviews to lay out the stakes of the November election and urge Ohioans to vote YES on Issue 1. Voting YES on Issue 1 will prevent Ohio’s extreme abortion ban – with no exceptions for rape or incest – from taking effect and keep private medical decisions between a woman and her doctor, without interference from politicians. 

“We are working to prevent a total abortion ban from taking effect and protect Ohio women’s freedom to make healthcare decisions for ourselves, our families without any interference from politicians,” Chair Walters told WKEF-TV in Dayton.  

See what Ohioans are watching and reading about Issue 1 below: 

Columbus Dispatch
Chair Elizabeth Walters, Op-Ed
September 26, 2023

• The only thing stopping a total abortion ban from taking effect in Ohio is your yes vote on Issue 1 on November 7. 

• Now, the only way we can stop this draconian abortion ban from taking effect and stop politicians from inserting themselves into our private, personal medical decisions is to vote Yes on Issue 1 by November 7. 

• Here’s the simple truth: passing Issue 1 would protect our right to reproductive care in the Ohio Constitution so that our freedoms will not be up to the whims of whatever politicians are in power at the moment.

• Full stop.

• It will keep these private healthcare decisions where they belong: with women and their families. 

• Any other talking points from the other side are just scare tactics meant to distract you from their anti-abortion agenda and their extreme total abortion ban.

WDTN-TV Dayton
Riley Phillips
September 26, 2023

• Issue One is about reproductive rights. The amendment would give every Ohioan the right to make their own decisions about things like abortion and contraception. It would also provide legal protections for those who do get an abortion.

• Ohio Democratic Party Chair, Liz Walters, said the party is staying focused on outreach.

• “This summer has been really, I think, inspiring for us. We’ve engaged hundreds and thousands of volunteers who are talking to their friends, family, and neighbors about why voting yes on Issue One this November is the right thing to do for Ohio, women and girls,” Walters explained.

• “We know that when our activists and volunteers or members of their community take the time to talk to friends and neighbors about voting, people show up more. They feel better informed about casting their vote in November,” Walters said.

WFMJ-TV Youngstown
Corey Vallas
September 26, 2023

• We spoke with Ohio’s Democratic Chair on 21 News at Five about why she feels this ballot measure is so important.

• “We know that Ohio voters overwhelmingly support women’s healthcare freedom and that no one wants politicians inserting themselves into their doctor’s office to make those choices,” Ohio Democratic Chair Liz Walters told 21 News.

• Walters said the proposed measure will give access to abortion protections for women in cases of rape or incest.

• It would also expand healthcare access to birth control and IVF treatments.

Cleveland Scene
Mark Oprea
September 27, 2023

• Walters said her office made one million calls and knocked on 243,000 doors in their battle to knock down the legislature-proposed constitutional amendment change.  As work continues in advance of November, Walters talked with Scene about the stakes for Ohio, the stakes for the nation, and voter outreach.

• We’re very aware that the entire fight for abortion rights in this country, Ohio is now the center of the universe for that. And so we take that very [seriously]. At the end of the day, this campaign is about Ohioans, about Ohio women. And it’s being led for and by voters.

• I think, though, philosophically, and I say this to someone like, listen, I was raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school. And here’s the thing about a yes vote on Issue 1. If you don’t like abortion, you can still not be for abortion with a yes vote on Issue 1. Right? This is about democracy, freedom and choices.

• This is not us trying to force a pro-abortion view on others. It is about trying to enshrine the right for Ohio women and their families to make deeply personal health care decisions in privacy with their doctors, rather than with politicians guiding what those decisions should be.

• And so whether you are an undecided voter, whether you don’t like abortion, a yes vote still empowers you to have those viewpoints, right? But if this issue fails, it will force extreme out-of-touch views from the Ohio legislature on all Ohio women—full stop.

WOSU News Columbus
Debbie Holmes
September 27, 2023

• The campaigns for the November election are gearing up as early voting in Ohio is scheduled to begin in two weeks. 

• “We are proud to be part of a big, diverse coalition who are supporting the yes on Issue 1 campaign for the November election,” says Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters. “We are working in this space, because we think the stakes couldn’t be higher.” 

• Walters says the party will be getting their message out in many ways. 

• “If you haven’t seen a TV ad yet or radio ad, I’m sure you will soon, and you’ll definitely be getting, you know, volunteers, maybe knocking on your door or making a phone call to you to talk about the importance of voting yes this fall,” says Walters.

• Walters says she expects voter turnout will surpass that of an off-year, non-presidential election.

• “I think with an issue as important as women’s health care, freedom on the ballot this November and so many folks who are going to want to come out and vote yes on Issue 1 to enshrine health care freedom for Ohio women. I think turnout will be higher than the normal odd year, November turnout,” says Walters.

• Walters adds the August special election in Ohio showed that Issue 1 attracted a wide variety of voters, not just progressive ones. She expects the same turnout on Nov. 7.

• “I think these are issues that are not necessarily about party,” says Walters. “They’re about people, you know, individual people. These are bigger than a partisanship. These are about folks making choices for themselves without the interference of politicians. And a whole bunch of folks, I think, are going to show up to vote this November to express their desires on these issues.”

WKEF-TV Dayton
September 26, 2023

• “We are working to prevent a total abortion ban from taking effect and protect Ohio women’s freedom to make healthcare decisions for ourselves, our families without any interference from politicians.” 

The Ohio University Post 
Paige Fisher
September 27, 2023

• The Post sat down with Liz Walters, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, to talk about the November election and what issues will be on the ballot.

• We are supporting a “yes” vote on state Issue 1; this enshrines women’s health care freedom in the Ohio Constitution. 

• A “yes” vote ensures that the extreme abortion bans that have already been passed in Ohio don’t take effect and that moving forward, Ohio women can make their own health care decisions in consultation with their families and their doctors without the interference of politicians.

• We have thousands of volunteers across the state who are working hard to talk to voters in their communities—where they live—knocking doors and making phone calls. 

• Also, where (voters) consume information, we have folks doing a lot of social media sharing (and) we have a texting program; some people are writing postcards. There’s all kinds of activism happening, particularly around Issue 1.

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LaRose puts his finger in the wind, again

Columbus, OH – After Bernie Moreno supported efforts to shut down the federal government, Frank LaRose put his finger in the wind and decided to fall in line. Earlier this week, Moreno said Republicans should shut down the federal government until “we finish Trump’s [border] wall.” Today, during a conservative radio interview, LaRose parroted Moreno’s talking points.

Steve Bannon: “Mitch McConnell just came out with a CR [to keep the government open]… If you were in the United States Senate today, brother LaRose, where would your vote be on this?”

Frank LaRose: “I wouldn’t be supportive of this.”

If the government shuts down, Ohioans receiving Social Security and Medicare will be at risk for disruptions. An estimated 6,800 active duty troops in Ohio would not receive pay. Many Ohio families, including more than 93,000 Ohio children, will lose their access to affordable food. A shutdown would also negatively impact the economy, Ohio workers, and Ohio families. 

“Frank LaRose continues to put his political ambitions before Ohioans and is now parroting Bernie Moreno’s talking points in support of a government shutdown, which would be devastating for Ohioans,” said ODP spokesperson Reeves Oyster. 

See also: Bernie Moreno Supports Government Shutdown

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As Moreno supports impending government shutdown, Frank LaRose and Matt Dolan stay silent 

Columbus, OH – As the deadline to avoid a government shutdown looms, Bernie Moreno is calling for a shutdown while Frank LaRose and Matt Dolan stay silent. Moreno has said Republicans should shut down the federal government until “we finish Trump’s [border] wall.” and opposes the bipartisan stopgap spending plan reached yesterday. 

If the government shuts down, Ohioans receiving Social Security and Medicare will be at risk for disruptions. Many Ohio families, including more than 93,000 Ohio children, will also lose their access to healthy food. A shutdown would also negatively impact the economy, Ohio workers, and Ohio families. 

“Ohioans deserve to know if Frank LaRose and Matt Dolan agree with Bernie Moreno and support an impending government shutdown,” said ODP spokesperson Reeves Oyster. 

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