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Incoming Secretary Of State Defends Controversial Choice For Transition Team

Karen Kasler
Sen. Frank LaRose (R-Hudson) speaks at a Statehouse news conference in February 2018.

Ohio’s incoming Secretary of State is taking some heat over one of the people he picked to co-chair his transition team – Ken Blackwell, who’s been blasting Democratsin the ongoing vote count in Florida. But Sen. Frank LaRose (R-Hudson) is standing by his choice.

LaRose said he picked Blackwell because he held the Secretary of State’s office for eight years – though his term was marked by lawsuits over various voting issues. But LaRose said Blackwell is also a staunch conservative. “He represents a wing of the party that I’m not always identified with, maybe further to the right. Speaker Davidson [is] more centrist. I think that hearing from both of those voices is important.”

LaRose’s team also includes well-respected former Speaker JoAnn Davidson. 

And as for Blackwell’s often inflammatory commentsin interviews and on social media about unproven fraud in the Florida vote, LaRose said: “I wouldn’t say those things but I won’t say I’m bothered by them either. Those are his words.”

During his time in the Senate, LaRose has called for a return to civility in politics.

Contact Karen at 614-578-6375 or at kkasler@statehousenews.org.
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