Only in America.

That’s what both of Frank LaRose’s grandfathers told him Saturday at brunch before LaRose was sworn in as Ohio’s 51st secretary of state at the Oliver Ocasek Building in downtown Akron.

The 39-year-old Republican is the descendant of Italians who immigrated to the U.S. about 100 years ago to pursue the American dream.

They found it with the House of LaRose, which distributed Budweiser beer in Akron for decades before moving and expanding in Brecksville.

Frank LaRose chose a different path.

And Saturday’s swearing-in deliberately celebrated the people who influenced LaRose along the way to public service and politics.

It started with place. LaRose, who grew up in Copley, said he wanted to take the oath in Akron as a way to say thank you.

He initially planned to host about 150 people in the lobby of the Summit County Courthouse.

But when RSVPs started rolling in, he knew he’d need a bigger space.

On Saturday, more than 900 people — including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Republican state Senate President Larry Obhof and Democratic Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan — filled the atrium of the Senator Oliver R. Ocasek Government Office Building, sitting in rows of chairs in front of a stage and ringing the open railings of the second and thirds floors overlooking the space.

LaRose is the first Summit County resident elected Ohio secretary of state in about 166 years, Akron attorney and master of ceremonies Jim Simon told the crowd.

The last was Henry W. King who represented the free soil party, which was dedicated solely to opposing the expansion of slavery. (King Elementary school in Akron is named for King.)

‘Solve problems’

LaRose told the crowd Saturday that every American generation solves a big problem.

For LaRose — who is on the cusp between Generation X and millennials — that problem is “making self-government work again,” he said. [more…]

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Buckingham attorney, Jim Simon, was master of ceremonies on Saturday as Frank LaRose was sworn in as Ohio Secretary of State. Jim Simon focuses his practice on finance & public law, business, and real estate & construction. He may be reach at 330.258.6559 or jsimon@bdblaw.com.