Josh Mandel's Series Of Unfortunate Events
Despite starting his Senate campaign just weeks after taking office as Ohio's Treasurer, Josh Mandel is making his campaign "official" at the Akron Press Club today - an event he initially refused to attend because he was "too busy." The story of his campaign to this point has been nothing but embarrassing; here is a look back at some of his greatest hits:
- Mandel "Aggressively Worked" Fundraising And Speaking Tours As State Treasurer While Office Schedule Was Neglected. [AP, 1/14/12]
- Mandel's First Senate Campaign Flight Occurred Less Than One Month After Taking Office As State Treasurer. [AP, 1/14/12]
- February 2012: Mandel Skipped 14th Consecutive Board Of Deposit Meeting, Still Failed To Attend A Single Meeting Since Taking Office. [Columbus Dispatch, 2/23/12]
- Mandel Disclosed His Personal Finances 177 Days Late. [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11/4/11; Mandel Personal Financial Disclosure]
- Mandel Released Official Schedules, Did Not Include Out-Of-State Fundraising Trips. [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1/20/12]
- Mandel Attack On Sherrod Brown Rated "Pants On Fire" By PolitiFact. [PolitiFact Ohio, 11/18/11]
Huffington Post: Josh Mandel, Ohio Treasurer And Senate Candidate, Skipped Board Meetings For No Known Reason
On February 24, 2012, the Huffington Post reported:
Josh Mandel, the Republican Ohio treasurer looking to move up to the Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, appears to have skipped meetings of the state Board of Deposit for mysterious reasons. Mandel, who officially chairs the board, has not attended even one of its 14 monthly meetings since he was elected treasurer. His schedules for those days, provided to The Huffington Post, do not clarify what was more pressing for the young treasurer than attending sessions of a body that oversees billions in state funds.
Columbus Dispatch: Treasurer Josh Mandel Skips Board Of Deposit (Again)…And He's Just Fine With That
On February 23, The Columbus Dispatch reported:
Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel did not attend today's Ohio Board of Deposit meeting, the 14th consecutive such session he's bypassed since becoming the state's financial chief last year.
Dayton Daily News: Former Clinton Adviser Speaks At Mandel Event
On February 20, 2012, the Dayton Daily News reported:
In the “where are they now” files, famed former political consultant Dick Morris – the man who advised former President Bill Clinton in the days after the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke – is now speaking at fundraisers for Republican Senate candidate Josh Mandel. Mandel paid $10,000 to Triangulation Strategies for a speaking fee at an Oct. 12, 2011 event for Mandel, according to research by American Bridge, a Democratic super PAC.
Columbus Dispatch: Dems Say Mandel's Campaign Trips Illegally Funded
On February 15, the Columbus Dispatch reported:
The Ohio Democratic Party today filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that state Treasurer Josh Mandel illegally used money from his state candidate fund to pay for activities related to his campaign for the U.S. Senate. Mandel, the Ohio GOP-endorsed candidate against incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, "appears to have paid for a least 10 trips" from his state fund -- Citizens for Josh Mandel -- for the purpose of gathering support for his Senate, the Democrats allege.
Akron Beacon Journal Editorial: Running Man
In a January 29, 2012 editorial, the Akron Beacon Journal wrote:
The Associated Press reported last week that Josh Mandel hasn’t been attending meetings of the state Board of Deposit. That isn’t a severe offense. State treasurers often send a designee. Yet Mandel is the first treasurer in recent memory who hasn’t made one appearance. [...] So what is Josh Mandel doing?
ProgressOhio: AWOL Mandel
On January 26, 2012, ProgressOhio posted the following:
Only one day after the Associated Press reported that Ohio Treasurer and Senate candidate Josh Mandel has never attended a Board of Deposit meeting, he skipped yet another one to attend a high-dollar fundraiser in Washington, DC. American Bridge trackers caught Mandel on his way to the fundraiser in DC, as well as his absence from the Board of Deposit meeting.
AP: Ohio Treasurer Balances Job, Politics In 1st Year
On January 14, the Associated Press reported:
During his first year as state treasurer, Ohio Republican Josh Mandel has been a man between two worlds, balancing duties of his first statewide office with a fledgling U.S. Senate campaign. Mandel has aggressively worked the fundraising and speaking circuit these past months, amassing more than $3.8 million this year in his Senate bid against Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. That's perhaps more than any other Senate challenger in the country. At the same time, his weekly calendars as state treasurer are almost devoid of appointments outside of staff meetings and speaking engagements. And he's yet to hold a single news conference to discuss the work he's doing for Ohioans.
VIDEO: 12 Days Of Christmas, American Bridge Style
From gaffes to flip flops to crony capitalism, this has been a fun year to be involved with politics at American Bridge 21st Century. As 2011 draws to a close, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at just a few of the stories that have made headlines over the last 365 days. “Between the Republican Presidential, Senate and House candidates, this has been a year of bountiful flip flops, gaffes and just outright craziness. As the year comes to a close, we at American Bridge would like to wish you a happy holiday and leave you with some of our favorite moments,” said Rodell Mollineau, President of American Bridge 21st Century. Happy holidays from American Bridge! We hope you enjoy our take on the 12 Days of Christmas.
Mandel “Too Busy” To Meet With The Press – Here’s What He’s Been Busy Doing
The Plain Dealer reported recently that Senate candidate Josh Mandel has been “too busy” to schedule an appearance with the Akron Press Club. American Bridge 21st Century decided to look into what has been taking up so much of his time that he is unable to answer basic questions about his policy positions. “The Ohio press corps should cut Josh Mandel some slack given that he is so busy running for Senate, he just doesn’t have time to answer their questions. As long as there is lobbyist money to be raised in DC and California, Ohioans will just have to wait,” said Matt Thornton, spokesman for American Bridge 21st Century. Check out why Senate candidate Josh Mandel was too busy to appear in Akron after the jump: