LaRose touts Issue 1 at the fair

LISBON -- Ohio Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose visited the Columbiana County Fair Wednesday, talking with officeholders, officials and volunteers at the GOP tent about promoting passage of State Issue 1.

He posed for photos, shook hands and even watched the pig races offered by All American Pig Racing, one of the new fair attractions this year.

LaRose is no stranger to Columbiana County, with this trip his 67th Yes On 1 event in the state, urging voters statewide to vote yes for State Issue 1, which is asking voters to decide whether they want to change the percentage needed to pass a state constitutional amendment from a simple majority of 50 percent plus one to 60 percent.

"It's very simply about protecting our state constitution," LaRose said. "The problem is that in Ohio, it's an arbitrarily low threshold to approve a constitutional amendment. It's only 50 percent plus one."

He said the side promoting a no vote is claiming Issue 1 takes away majority rule, but that's nonsense. He said majority rule is still alive and well after Issue 1 passes for policy making and passing laws.

"All this does is elevates to a higher level the standard for constitutional amendments," he said.

LaRose said the constitution "is not for day-to-day policy making, it's not for controversial issues of the day. The constitution is for the basic structure of government and those fundamental rights that we broadly agree on."

LaRose spoke briefly to fellow Republicans about the need for Issue 1 to pass and against those who are promoting the issue's failure.

According to some published reports Wednesday, the Libertarian Party of Ohio filed a complaint recently accusing LaRose of violating the Hatch Act due to his

 promotion of state Issue 1 since his office receives federal funding. According to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel website, campaigning for or against constitutional amendments, referendums or municipal ordinances is permitted.

In talking about his run for the U.S. Senate in 2024, he commented that the day-to-day work of winning this race begins on Aug. 9, the day after Election Day next week. Until then, his off-duty time is being spent campaigning in favor of state Issue 1. 

When asked why the issue was placed on the August ballot after legislators took action to eliminate August special elections, LaRose explained that school boards, sewer and water districts, parks and other local entities have historically placed tax levies on the ballot in August, tending to fly below the radar when there's low turnout. Then later, voters wonder why their taxes have increased.

He said eliminating those was a good thing, but he also pointed out that the state legislature has always had the authority to set the time, manner and place of elections. The legislature chose to have this issue on the August ballot -- he wanted it in May -- but that was their choice.

LaRose pointed out that when the citizen initiative first came into being 111 years ago, it was placed on the ballot in a September special election, so there's nothing unusual about having State Issue 1 on the August ballot.

Regarding the 2024 U.S. Senate race, he said he felt he needed to run, that "our country's in jeopardy."

He'll be going up against two other Republicans so far in the primary next year, saying a battle-tested conservative is needed and he's the only one who's a lifelong Republican. He also said he's the only one with a 100 percent pro-life voting record, a 100 percent pro-second amendment record and a 100 percent record on cutting taxes, not raising them.

Just two weeks into the campaign, he said he's the only one tied neck and neck with Sherrod Brown.

After the fair, he was heading to Youngstown for another event.

"It's always great to see Secretary LaRose in the county. I can't remember a Secretary of State as engaged and directly involved with local election officials and local officeholders. We have a great deal of respect for Frank LaRose," county Republican Party Chairman David Johnson said.

Johnson called state Issue 1 "one of the most important election issues we have faced in decades in Ohio. It's about saving our state constitution."