Photo by Warren Scott Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose listened as local officials and business leaders shared their concerns Wednesday at Hidden Acres Weddings and Events Center.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose heard concerns from local officials and business leaders who gathered in Mingo Junction on Thursday and stopped by the Toronto Fire Department to thank firefighters from multiple departments who extinguished a brush fire near the home of his regional coordinator.

LaRose, a Republican who has declared his candidacy for state auditor in 2026, met with about a dozen community leaders, including Jefferson County Commissioner Jake Kleineke and Steubenville Second Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon at Hidden Acres Weddings and Events Center, an event venue co-owned by Kleineke.

LaRose told the group the secretary of state’s office has two primary responsibilities: helping people to vote and helping new businesses to register with the state.

He said as the state’s chief election official, he’s pushed for security and convenience in elections, qualities he said need not be exclusive from each other.

LaRose said that’s supported by record voter turnouts for elections held since he was elected to the position in 2019.

He said at a time when many government entities have been the victims of cyber-attacks, the state’s county board of elections offices have been immune because of his office’s implementation of firewalls and other technology and training of election workers in safe practices.

LaRose said he’s proud that the state’s incorporation fee for businesses hasn’t risen in some time and remains the lowest among those in U.S. states.

He said his office usually is able to provide businesses with their articles of incorporation within 24 hours.

Former Jefferson County Commissioner Tom Gentile told LaRose that a common complaint among Jefferson County residents is that state officials aren’t concerned with their area.

LaRose encouraged Jefferson County officials to form delegations to meet with various state leaders at Ohio’s capital to express their needs and concerns.

He also suggested they “send good people to represent them.”

LaRose said during election years, it’s not unusual to see candidates campaigning in the state’s larger cities.

He suggested local residents “Pay attention to who comes (here.) Pay attention to who takes the time to be here.”

LaRose said he sees the Ohio Valley as being “the next big success story,” of a magnitude of California’s Silicon Valley.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work, but it’s really possible for this area to become the next big economic development story,” he said.

Asked why he is running for state auditor, LaRose said he welcomes the opportunity to uncover any fraudulent use of public funds and would like to use the office to ensure government operations are run in an efficient and modern manner.

He said he could function as a local Department of Government Efficiency, though not as aggressively as Elon Musk.

LaRose said he would seek input from the staff members of government agencies and seek to streamline operations “by taking a thoughtful look at what we are trying to accomplish.”

He added it may be time for some to adopt new equipment.

“Sometimes you need to invest money to save money,” said LaRose.

During his visit to Mingo Junction, LaRose was told about a shortage of volunteers in the county’s fire departments, resulting in a number closing and some sharing the same voluntary personnel.

It was suggested today’s more extensive training requirements and their costs are a deterrent to such volunteerism.

LaRose said state legislators may be able to establish incentives for local firefighters.

He followed up his visit in Mingo Junction with one to the Toronto Fire Department.

There he thanked firefighters from multiple local departments for their efforts over several hours in extinguishing a brush fire that spread across many acres near county Road 56 and township Roads 376 and 428 on March 20.

LaRose said he learned of the fire from his regional coordinator, Fiona Ruminski, who lives near there.