Posts by Rachael N. Guastella https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/author/rachael-guastella Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:15:29 -0400 Ohio Ethics Commission Clarifies Rules for Public Officials’ Civil Legal Defense Funds https://www.bricker.com/sp_resources-blogpost-ohio-ethics-commission-clarifies-rules-for-public-officials-civil-legal-defense-funds blogpost-ohio-ethics-commission-clarifies-rules-for-public-officials-civil-legal-defense-funds Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:00:01 -0500 There Is Such a Thing as Bad Publicity https://www.bricker.com/sp_resources-blogpost-there-is-such-a-thing-as-bad-publicity blogpost-there-is-such-a-thing-as-bad-publicity Thu, 15 May 2025 09:00:02 -0400 Tidying Up: Spring Cleaning for Your PAC https://www.bricker.com/sp_resources-blogpost-tidying-up-spring-cleaning-for-your-pac-2025 blogpost-tidying-up-spring-cleaning-for-your-pac-2025 Thu, 15 May 2025 09:00:03 -0400 Ohio Ethics Commission Clears Personal Use of Travel Rewards https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/ohio-ethics-commission-clears-personal-use-of-travel-rewards Rachael N. Guastella ohio-ethics-commission-clears-personal-use-of-travel-rewards Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:00:04 -0400 On August 4, 2025, the Ohio Ethics Commission approved Formal Advisory Opinion 2025-02, which allows public officials or employees to use frequent flyer miles that were earned during official travel for personal travel.

Previously, the Ohio Ethics Commission had found that the use of frequent flyer miles accrued during official travel for ...

]]> Tidying Up: Spring Cleaning for Your PAC https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/tidying-up-spring-cleaning-for-your-pac-2025 Rachael N. Guastella tidying-up-spring-cleaning-for-your-pac-2025 Thu, 15 May 2025 09:00:05 -0400 With a busy state election cycle behind us, spring is an ideal time to give your Political Action Committee (PAC) a thorough cleaning. These checklist items should be part of your regular PAC maintenance. But if you haven’t asked yourself these questions in a while, now is an ideal time. 

Statement of Organization/Designation of Treasurer

  1. Are your ...
]]> A Closer Look at Kentucky's 2024 General Election https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/a-closer-look-at-kentuckys-2024-general-election Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Elizabeth F. Martini, William D. Mason, Christopher N. Slagle, Elisabeth A. Squeglia a-closer-look-at-kentuckys-2024-general-election Wed, 06 Nov 2024 09:00:06 -0500 The Commonwealth of Kentucky's 2024 election results reflect key shifts in the political landscape, both locally and nationwide. As part of a strong national showing for Republicans, President Trump won Kentucky with 65% of the vote, an increase from 2020. Every county swung further in his favor, underscoring the state’s deepening Republican alignment. Republicans also maintained a wide margin in the Kentucky State Legislature, signaling stability in local governance.

]]> Ohio Ethics Commission's New Resolution on PUCO Member Data Access https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/ohio-ethics-commissions-new-resolution-on-puco-member-data-access Rachael N. Guastella ohio-ethics-commissions-new-resolution-on-puco-member-data-access Mon, 04 Nov 2024 09:00:07 -0500 On November 1, 2024, the Ohio Ethics Commission affirmed by resolution its request to the statutory Nominating Council that considers members for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) for it to have access to the same personal data that a member of the PUCO would be required to report to the Ethics Commission. You can review the Ohio Ethics ...

]]> Supreme Court of Ohio Announces Adoption of Increased Judicial Campaign Limits https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/supreme-court-of-ohio-announces-adoption-of-increased-judicial-campaign-limits Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch supreme-court-of-ohio-announces-adoption-of-increased-judicial-campaign-limits Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:00:08 -0400 Last week, the Supreme Court of Ohio announced the adoption of increased judicial campaign contribution limits beginning with the 2025 election cycle.

]]> Ohio Ethics Commission Releases 2023 Opinions and Investigations Data https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/ohio-ethics-commission-releases-2023-opinions-and-investigations-data Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch ohio-ethics-commission-releases-2023-opinions-and-investigations-data Fri, 02 Feb 2024 09:00:09 -0500 During the Ohio Ethics Commission's first meeting of 2024, the Commission reviewed staff reports on its activity in 2023.

]]> Ohio Ethics Commission annual report highlights top five categories for investigations in 2022 https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/Ohio-Ethics-Commission-annual-report-highlights-top-five-categories-for-investigations-in-2022 Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Christopher N. Slagle Ohio-Ethics-Commission-annual-report-highlights-top-five-categories-for-investigations-in-2022 Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:00:10 -0500 In its 2022 Annual Report, the Ohio Ethics Commission provides statistics and lists on several of the Commission’s activities for the year including a breakdown of the top five categories for investigations last year.

]]> 2022 General Election Update https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/2022-General-Election-Update Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Christopher N. Slagle 2022-General-Election-Update Thu, 10 Nov 2022 09:00:11 -0500 On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Ohioans, like the rest of the country, cast ballots in the 2022 General Election. Ohioans voted on all statewide constitutional offices, one U.S. Senate seat, and several important statewide and local ballot issues. Early turnout for the 2022 General Election was greater than the previous statewide 2018 general election. 

]]> 2022 August Primary Election Results and Analysis https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/2022-August-Primary-Election-Results-and-Analysis Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle 2022-August-Primary-Election-Results-and-Analysis Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:00:12 -0400 Ohio held the state’s second Primary Election on August 2, 2022, featuring partisan primaries for State House and Senate candidates and also central committee seats for state political parties. As expected, turnout was low at only 7.93 percent according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s unofficial tallies.

]]> July 21 is the Pre-Primary campaign finance filing deadline for the August 2 Primary Election https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/July-21-is-the-Pre-Primary-campaign-finance-filing-deadline-for-the-August-2-Primary-Election Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle July-21-is-the-Pre-Primary-campaign-finance-filing-deadline-for-the-August-2-Primary-Election Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:00:13 -0400 Please be reminded that because of Ohio’s bifurcated Primary Elections, today is the Pre-Primary campaign finance filing deadline for the August 2 Primary Election,  to disclose activity through July 13, 2022. If your political action committee (PAC) engaged in any activity related to the primary elections for State House or State Senate, you may need to file a report by the end of business today, July 21, 2022. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

]]> Conference ethics considerations https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/Conference-ethics-considerations Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle Conference-ethics-considerations Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:00:14 -0400 As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and returns to the new normal, in-person conferences have also returned from their hiatus. Accordingly, it is an appropriate time to review ethics laws regarding public officials and employees at conferences. 

]]> Ohio Ethics Commission announces the top five categories for investigations in 2021 https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/Ohio-Ethics-Commission-announces-the-top-five-categories-for-investigations-in-2021 Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle Ohio-Ethics-Commission-announces-the-top-five-categories-for-investigations-in-2021 Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:00:15 -0400 In its 2021 Annual Report, the Ohio Ethics Commission provides statistics and lists on several of the Commission’s activities for the year including a breakdown of the top five categories for investigations last year.

]]> First half 2022 review, General Election, and preview of Lame Duck Session https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/First-half-2022-review-General-Election-and-preview-of-Lame-Duck-Session Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle First-half-2022-review-General-Election-and-preview-of-Lame-Duck-Session Wed, 15 Jun 2022 09:00:16 -0400 The Ohio General Assembly finished the first half of 2022 with a rush of lawmaking, appropriating billions of dollars in infrastructure spending, and making policy changes in a range of subjects. 

]]> 2022 Primary Election Update https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/2022-Primary-Election-Update Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle 2022-Primary-Election-Update Thu, 05 May 2022 09:00:17 -0400 On Tuesday, May, 3, 2022, Ohioans cast their ballots in the state’s Primary Election. May’s Primary Election did not include candidates for state legislative districts, due to the ongoing litigation regarding the new maps for state legislators created through the redistricting process. Candidates for state legislative districts will have a separate primary, likely held with the already scheduled special election on August 2, 2022.

]]> Governor DeWine signs House Bill 51 into law, allowing for virtual public meetings until July 1, 2022 https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/Governor-DeWine-signs-House-Bill-51-into-law-allowing-for-virtual-public-meetings-until-July-1-2022 Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle Governor-DeWine-signs-House-Bill-51-into-law-allowing-for-virtual-public-meetings-until-July-1-2022 Mon, 28 Feb 2022 09:00:18 -0500 On February 17, 2022, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 51 into law. House Bill 51 includes an uncodified provision authorizing public meetings to be held by teleconference, video conference or other similar electronic technology through June 30, 2022. 

]]> Ohio Elections Commission determines foreign national cannot contribute to a ballot issue PAC https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/Ohio-Elections-Commission-determines-foreign-national-cannot-contribute-to-a-ballot-issue-PAC Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle Ohio-Elections-Commission-determines-foreign-national-cannot-contribute-to-a-ballot-issue-PAC Mon, 28 Feb 2022 09:00:19 -0500 The Ohio Elections Commission recently issued an advisory opinion addressing whether a foreign national can contribute to a ballot issue political action committee (PAC) in Ohio.

]]> Ohio Ethics Commission calls for enhanced penalties for ethics violations https://www.bricker.com/compliance-connections/Ohio-Ethics-Commission-calls-for-enhanced-penalties-for-ethics-violations Rachael N. Guastella, Matthew R. Koppitch, Gregory J. Lestini, Brock A. Miskimen, Christopher N. Slagle Ohio-Ethics-Commission-calls-for-enhanced-penalties-for-ethics-violations Mon, 28 Feb 2022 09:00:20 -0500 In its January 26, 2022, press release, the Ohio Ethics Commission is urging the Ohio General Assembly to enact enhanced penalties for persons or entities convicted of giving unlawful gifts or payments to any public official or employee in Ohio state or local government. 

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