Power in the Shadows: Inside the Freedom Circle PAC
How a Quiet Lorain County PAC Became a Conduit for Political Control and Conflicted Contributions
May 30, 2025
By Aaron C. Knapp
Writer, Editor, and Publisher — Lorain Politics Unplugged
Aaron C. Knapp is an independent investigative journalist and civic reform advocate based in Lorain County. As the sole author of Lorain Politics Unplugged, he reports on political accountability, campaign finance, and government transparency. A retired social worker and Army veteran, Knapp brings first-hand experience with public systems and a relentless commitment to holding power to account.
I. A PAC Emerges in Lorain County
On March 31, 2023, a political action committee named Freedom Circle filed its Form 8871 with the IRS, formally establishing its tax-exempt status as a Section 527 organization. Simultaneously, it registered with the Ohio Secretary of State, listing James A. Park as its treasurer and using his accounting firm’s office at 2173 North Ridge Road East, Suite C in Lorain as its headquarters. Park, a certified public accountant based in Amherst, would not only manage the PAC’s finances but also become one of its early contributors.
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The PAC launched with no website, no press release, and no visible outreach. Yet by mid-year 2023, it had quietly collected over $27,000 in contributions from a tight circle of Lorain County insiders—many of them sitting Republican officials or politically connected business figures. This kind of low-profile but high-dollar fundraising has become increasingly common in local politics. As one former elections compliance officer noted anonymously, “The new strategy isn’t about massive spending—it’s about keeping it quiet. Influence now comes in checks under $10,000 and names the public doesn’t know.”
These early moves suggest Freedom Circle was built to operate behind the scenes—collecting money from key GOP donors and redistributing it in ways that would consolidate influence within a small, familiar network.
II. The Architect: Jeff Riddell’s Strategic Blueprint
Though Jeff Riddell never appeared on the Freedom Circle PAC’s official paperwork, multiple political insiders and finance records suggest he was deeply involved in its strategic direction. Several donors listed in early filings have long-standing personal or political ties to Riddell, and candidates supported by the PAC have also appeared in other initiatives tied to his network.
Riddell served on the Lorain County Republican Party Executive Board and was later appointed as the Henrietta Township precinct committeeman representative—a role filled by party appointment. Once elected as a county commissioner, he could no longer serve on the executive board, in accordance with party bylaws.
While Riddell has not issued public statements regarding the PAC, individuals familiar with county GOP strategy—speaking on background—suggest he played a role in advising or recruiting early participants. “Jeff always knew how to operate in the gray zones—he didn’t have to be on the paperwork to be the one moving the pieces,” said one longtime political insider.
Yet as the PAC’s influence grew, another name emerged repeatedly in the background: David Moore. Moore, a prominent political donor and business figure in Lorain County, has been linked to numerous campaigns and fundraising initiatives. His influence, while not listed formally on PAC documents, appears throughout the donation ledgers and candidate alignments promoted by Freedom Circle.
“Jeff was the face, but everyone in the room knew Moore had the checkbook—and the plan,” said a former GOP official who requested anonymity. Campaign finance records show Moore’s known allies and previous collaborators donating large sums to the PAC during its most active periods.
Together, Riddell and Moore appear to represent the PAC’s dual structure: a strategist who understands the political machinery and a financier with the ability to move resources swiftly and decisively. While this partnership is not explicitly documented, it is widely discussed within Lorain’s political circles and visible through patterns in donations and endorsements.
“Commissioner Jeff Riddell is the head of the snake,” said former Lorain County Commissioner Michelle Hung in a private statement to this publication. “He is the alleged ‘money bundler’ for the Lorain County Republican Party. Riddell is fundraising the same way he did while President of Consumers Builders Supply and while a sitting County Commissioner. That alone should alarm the residents.”
III. Donors in Two Worlds: When Private Money Meets Public Power
Among Freedom Circle’s financial supporters are more than just rank-and-file conservatives. Campaign finance records reveal that many of its most generous donors hold—or have recently held—official positions in public institutions across Lorain County. That dual role raises familiar ethical red flags.
Among the PAC’s contributors are current or former members of the City of Lorain Port Authority, Lorain County administration, and various township and county advisory panels. These include Robert Gilchrist, Tom Williams, Connie Carr, and Daniel Gross—each of whom has made four-figure contributions while occupying or recently departing appointed posts. Carr, in particular, has served as legal counsel to the Lorain County Port Authority and is a known figure in public-private legal partnerships. Gross was appointed to the Lorain County Port Authority Board in 2023 following a split vote by county commissioners. That after his father, Daniel Gross Sr made several large donations to the PAC. Gross Sr also works for the Lorain County Board of Commissioners. Their dual roles present at least the appearance of a conflict of interest, if not a structural one.
This convergence of public service and political spending is not illegal in itself—but it walks a line. The appearance of impropriety, especially when appointments follow or coincide with political contributions, fuels public mistrust. Under Ohio Revised Code §102.03(D), public officials are barred from using their position to secure “anything of value” that could influence their official duties. A donation doesn’t always equal a favor, but it invites scrutiny.
Campaign finance watchdogs agree. “When you see board members giving large donations to a PAC that backs candidates with power over appointments or budgets, that’s a red flag,” said Colleen Bailey of Democracy Ohio. “Even if no laws are broken, the ethical implications are real—and damaging.”
The overlap also reveals how interconnected the local political machine has become. Donors like Carr, Gross, Williams, and Gilchrist exist in a space where public trust and private interests collide. They don’t just contribute—they govern, advise, and help shape the future of Lorain County.
IV. Transparency in the Dark: Records, Revisions, and Accountability
Despite Freedom Circle PAC’s lawful registration and active reporting with the Ohio Secretary of State, its posture toward public transparency remains limited. Unlike many political action committees, Freedom Circle operates without a public website, does not post updates to social media, and issues no press releases or candidate endorsement summaries. To most voters, it simply does not exist.
The PAC filed a total of four campaign finance reports between April 2023 and April 2025, including one amended report submitted in compliance with Ohio Revised Code §3517.10, which governs correction of reporting errors. That amended filing—submitted in July 2023—clarified earlier omissions in donor and expenditure details, particularly in the PAC’s initial operating months.
Publicly available filings list donations and expenditures that align with the PAC’s electoral activities during the 2023 local election cycle. A careful manual audit of all contributions, disbursements, and balances confirms that no material discrepancies remain between reported fundraising and actual financial movement. The PAC’s final April 2025 filing shows a modest balance carried forward, with no unaccounted funds.
Still, observers have noted how difficult it is for an average citizen to trace this flow. “These filings are accurate now, but the average voter shouldn’t need a spreadsheet and magnifying glass to follow the money,” said a retired compliance officer with experience in county-level political finance, who spoke on background.
The challenge lies not in legality—but in accessibility. PAC finance data is hosted on state-run systems that require multi-step queries, ID matching, and technical parsing of PDFs. Freedom Circle’s reports are complete, but navigating them requires time, patience, and familiarity with campaign finance law.
Even seasoned watchdogs acknowledge the burden this places on transparency. Without a local repository, explanatory summaries, or third-party oversight, interested voters must act as their own auditors—something few are equipped or inclined to do.
V. Ethics and Oversight: Dual Roles and PAC Accountability
The intersection of campaign finance and political appointments has long tested the ethical boundaries of public service. In Lorain County, Freedom Circle PAC’s donor list includes multiple individuals who simultaneously serve on public boards, committees, or in party leadership roles. While Ohio law does not explicitly prohibit such contributions, it raises serious questions about influence, access, and the ethical duty to serve impartially.
Among the PAC’s contributors are current or former members of the City of Lorain Port Authority, Lorain County administration, and various township and county advisory panels. These include Robert Gilchrist, Tom Williams, Connie Carr, and Daniel Gross—each of whom has made four-figure contributions while occupying or recently departing appointed posts. Carr, in particular, has served as legal counsel to the Lorain County Port Authority and is a known figure in public-private legal partnerships. Gross was appointed to the Lorain County Port Authority Board in 2023 following a split vote by county commissioners. That after his father, Daniel Gross Sr made several large donations to the PAC. Gross Sr also works for the Lorain County Board of Commissioners. Their dual roles present at least the appearance of a conflict of interest, if not a structural one.
Under Ohio Revised Code §102.03(D), public officials are prohibited from using their position to secure anything of value that could improperly influence their duties. While campaign donations are legal, the spirit of the law is clear: avoid entanglements that create doubt about public motivations.
Local government watchdogs have expressed concern. “It’s not just about what’s technically allowed—it’s about what voters perceive,” said a retired county ethics officer who requested anonymity. “If a donor sits on the board that allocates public contracts or influences party endorsements, and then donates to the PAC backing those candidates, it’s reasonable for the public to ask: who are they really working for?”
In most counties, such concerns would trigger policy reforms or at least a code of ethics review. But in Lorain, the lack of a formal PAC oversight mechanism—beyond state-level filing requirements—means the Freedom Circle operates largely unchecked. No local agency tracks its decisions or investigates potential conflicts between donations and public service roles.
Experts say this regulatory gap creates a feedback loop of influence. Those in power fund the PAC. The PAC elevates like-minded candidates. Those candidates, once elected, reaffirm the roles of their donors and allies. It’s a closed circuit with little external accountability.
In this context, ethics becomes less about lawbreaking and more about the health of democracy itself. Voters may never know if decisions were swayed by dollars—but the system gives them reason to wonder.
VI. Sidebar: Reform on the Table – Legal and Oversight Pathways
The legal framework governing political action committees in Ohio offers minimal proactive oversight, particularly at the local level. While PACs must file routine disclosures under Ohio Revised Code §3517.10, there is no county-level agency tasked with reviewing the implications of those filings. This means that even when donors to a PAC are simultaneously sitting on public boards, holding appointments, or advising political campaigns, no automatic inquiry is triggered.
Campaign finance experts have long argued for reforms—such as independent ethics panels, mandatory donor-recusal policies for board members, and digital transparency tools that allow voters to track money-to-power pipelines in real time. Some counties have even adopted local PAC registries or additional ethics ordinances to fill the enforcement void left by state law.
“If we want to restore public trust, we need more than compliance—we need visibility,” said Colleen Bailey of Democracy Ohio. “Right now, too much happens off paper. That breeds cynicism.”
For Lorain County, the issue isn’t just about the Freedom Circle PAC—it’s about the precedent it sets. When a PAC can raise tens of thousands of dollars, fund slates of candidates, and intersect with appointed government power without any additional scrutiny, the result is predictable: influence consolidates behind closed doors.
Some advocates are calling for local ordinances that would require public appointees to disclose PAC affiliations and abstain from decisions involving PAC-backed candidates. Others suggest a rotating ethics board or independent financial review panel be established at the county level to audit recurring donations from public officials to political causes.
Without these reforms, the Freedom Circle PAC may not be the last to operate in the gray zone—it will simply be the first.
VII. Final Thought – The Cost of Shadow Influence
Freedom Circle PAC’s formation, fundraising, and quiet entanglements with public and political actors in Lorain County offer more than a case study—they present a warning. When political influence flows through unregulated or loosely monitored channels, the core premise of representative democracy—accountability to voters—begins to erode.
The donors involved are not just concerned citizens; they are often insiders with direct or indirect access to government contracts, appointments, and strategic party control. And while none of this is outright illegal under Ohio’s current framework, the cumulative effect is corrosive: a closed loop where money moves decisions before the public even knows a choice is on the table.
PACs like Freedom Circle thrive in the space between the letter and spirit of the law. They enable plausible deniability while amplifying the voices of those already in the room. The average voter cannot compete with that level of influence, nor should they have to. A functioning democracy depends on transparency, not trust falls.
If Lorain County hopes to retain or rebuild that trust, it must start by confronting these overlapping roles and conflicts. Not with whispered accusations, but with policy—sunlight in the form of local ethics panels, transparent appointment disclosures, and real-time donation tracking. Without such reforms, what happened quietly in 2023 may become the norm in every election cycle to come.
PDF DOcuments of All the PACs donations and payouts.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is a journalistic investigation based on publicly available campaign finance records, official filings, and verifiable public data. The reporting herein is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. All individuals and entities are presumed innocent of any wrongdoing unless proven otherwise in a court of law. While the financial data was carefully analyzed and confirmed through available public reports, this does not constitute a formal audit or legal finding.
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