Here’s What They’re Saying: “Frank LaRose ‘Failed Most Spectacularly’ on Redistricting Maps”
March 7, 2022
For Immediate Release:
Monday, March 7, 2022
Columbus, OH — In case you missed it, Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) Chair Liz Walters joined Secretary of State candidate Chelsea Clark last Friday to discuss the ways that Frank LaRose has failed to do his job as Ohio Secretary of State by passing illegal, GOP-gerrymandered maps, releasing directives to shore up his own political support and potentially costing Ohioans tens of millions of dollars all so he can play politics with the redistricting process.
“Frank LaRose called GOP-gerrymandered maps ‘asinine’ one day, and then turned around and voted for them the next. LaRose’s primary responsibility is to protect the integrity of Ohio’s elections and put the best interests of the voters of Ohio first. Instead, the only interests he’s serving are his own,” said Chair Walters.
“From day one of the redistricting process, Frank LaRose has betrayed Ohioans and put his own party above his responsibilities to the Constitution, to the law and to the voters of our state. And what’s worse? Ohioans are left to foot the bill,” said Ms. Clark.
See more of what Ohioans are reading and seeing today:
WJW-TV: Ohio Democrats claim Frank LaRose ‘failed most spectacularly’ on redistricting maps
Cris Belle
“Top Ohio Democrats are calling out Secretary of State Frank LaRose claiming he failed on redistricting and cost Ohioans millions.
“In a Friday morning press conference, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters and Secretary of State candidate Chelsea Clark voiced their concerns about Frank LaRose for what they say is ‘playing partisan games with redistricting as he continues to break the law and rubber stamp gerrymandered maps.’
…
“Ohio Democrats say that while every Republican on the commission is to blame ‘for the chaos caused by their failure to pass fair maps,’ Ohio’s top elections official, ‘LaRose has failed most spectacularly.’”
WKYC-TV: How close is Ohio’s primary election date to being in jeopardy?
Will Ujek
“Could Ohio’s primary date be in jeopardy? As we move closer to the primary, still without court approved maps, how realistic is voting on May 3rd?
“Right now, Ohio finds itself in the middle of an election crisis,” says Ohio Democratic Party Chair, Elizabeth Walters.
“They passed a map out of the commission on a partisan breakdown, so only Republicans voted for it,’ says Walters. ‘It is an unconstitutional gerrymander. So he’s directed the boards to validate with a map that is not abiding by the court’s direction.’
Andrew Tobias
“Ohio’s elections officials and the state’s Republican attorney general have implored the Ohio legislature to move the May 3 primary, saying delays in setting new state legislative and congressional lines have jeopardized an orderly, accurate election.
“But state lawmakers have balked, and for now, planning for the election is going full speed ahead. Why? Because of hardened opposition from General Assembly Republicans, particularly in the Ohio House.
…
“Ohio Democrats meanwhile have accused Republicans of using the election to engineer a crisis and put pressure on the court to approve their gerrymandered maps.
“On Friday, Ohio Democrats held a news conference where their secretary of state candidate, Chelsea Clark, criticized LaRose for his part in the redistricting mess. Clark said that by not working with Democrats to pass a map, LaRose had put military voters’ ballots at risk.”
WBNS-TV: Secretary of State Facing Criticism
“Everything is up in the air when it comes to the May 3 primary for Ohio. The redistricting commission passed new district maps but the state Supreme Court hasn’t signed off on them yet. Secretary of State Frank LaRose is now facing criticism from the Ohio Democratic Party chair. She says he failed Ohioans by voting for the maps that they say are still gerrymandering.
“LaRose’s primary responsibility is to protect the integrity of Ohio’s elections and put the best interests of the voters of Ohio first. Instead, the only interests he seems to be serving are his own,’ said Chair Elizabeth Walters.”
###