Loading
Skip to main content
Ohio State Seal
The Ohio Senate
135th General Assembly
My Ohio Legislature
Previous Member
Member Directory
Next Member
 

Lawmakers Call on Secretary of State LaRose to Provide Details on Potential Misuse of Taxpayer Funds

September 27, 2023
William P. DeMora News
 

Thirteen Ohio lawmakers are calling on Secretary of State Frank LaRose to provide full transparency and details on his potential misuse of taxpayer funds after reports showed LaRose is moving the Ohio Secretary of State’s office to the same building as his campaign headquarters for U.S. Senate. This move will cost taxpayers $600,000 and independent experts have noted it raises ethical concerns about LaRose “co-mingling” official responsibilities with campaign activity at Ohioans’ expense.

“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,” wrote the lawmakers. “We trust this request will reach you with the urgency it warrants. As elected officials, we owe Ohioans complete transparency into how their tax dollars are spent, especially when related to political campaigns.”

The letter calls on LaRose to provide full details regarding:

  1. The process for moving the Secretary of State’s office to the same location registered for his U.S. Senate campaign headquarters.
  2. Full details on the timeline of LaRose’s decision in relation to when he began considering running for U.S. Senate.
  3. LaRose’s request to bypass the standard competitive selection process to secure 200 Civic Center Drive as the new location for the Secretary of State’s office.

The letter is signed by Senator William DeMora (District 25), Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (District 23), House Minority Leader Allison Russo (District 7), House Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius Jarrells (District 1), Senate Minority Whip Kent Smith (District 21), Senate Assistant Minority Whip Paula Hicks-Hudson (District 11), House Minority Whip Jessica Miranda (District 28), House Assistant Minority Whip Tavia Galonski (District 33), Representative Munira Abdullahi (District 9), Representative Anita Somani (District 11), Representative Bride Rose Sweeney (District 16), Representative Elliot Forhan (District 21), and Representative Rachel Baker (District 27).

The full letter is available here.