(Columbus) – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued the following statement today regarding Raise the Wage Ohio’s decision to postpone the filing of a petition to raise Ohio’s minimum wage:
“Minutes ago, I was informed by Raise the Wage Ohio’s counsel that they will not be filing a petition prior to tonight’s deadline.
This group spent the better part of the day falsely blaming me for access issues to our building due to a fireworks event downtown. Then they changed their story entirely and publicly admitted to falling short of signature requirements, but shamefully accused rural Ohioans of being racist as cover for their failure. Minutes later, they walked that statement back. Now they have confirmed once again that they cannot file. This is a duplicitous, disorganized goat rodeo of a campaign that has made every excuse in the book for their lack of compliance with the law.
Let me be clear. My team has made every accommodation to facilitate a smooth and secure filing of this petition. We worked with the city’s Emergency Operations Command, the Columbus Police Department, the Ohio Highway Patrol and the chief of staff and deputy chief of staff at the Columbus mayor’s office. Access issues were never a problem. Rural Ohioans are not to blame. I won’t sit quietly while any group distorts the truth to cover for their own negligence.”
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