Dayton Daily News: Mandel takes on critics of campaign
Josh Mandel defends his Suarez Corporation contributions to Laura Bischoff at the Dayton Daily News.
On the questions raised over campaign contributions: Mandel accepted more than $100,000 in campaign donations from employees of Canton-based Suarez Corp., a marketing firm owned by GOP donor Ben Suarez. The (Toledo) Blade reported that several of the donors live in modest homes, have low-level job titles and have never made political contributions to federal candidates. Yet they dug deep and gave the maximum allowable campaign contribution to Mandel — $5,000. Giving campaign money in the name of another is illegal.
Mark Naymik, Plain Dealer: To be a model of transparency, Treasurer Josh Mandel and others have long way to go
Mark Naymik at the Plain Dealer discusses Josh Mandel's failure to file his Senate personal financial disclosure form:
Finally, Mandel should shine more light on himself. He has refused to file required personal financial information related to his bid for the U.S. Senate. It was due months ago. He makes excuses about confusing paperwork. If he wants to be taken seriously, then he must set the standard on openness.
Toledo Blade: Financial disclosure to be filed by Mandel
Despite a due date of May 15, Josh Mandel told the Toledo Blade he plans for file his Senate personal financial disclosure in October.
State Treasurer Josh Mandel's campaign said Friday it expects to file sometime in October a federal personal financial disclosure form that was due May 15.
Youngstown Vindicator editorial: Mandel’s failure to file doesn’t add up
The Youngstown Vindicator wrote an editorial hitting Josh Mandel for his failure to file his required personal financial disclosure.
You would think as the state treasurer, Josh Mandel would have a good grasp of finances. But Mandel, a Republican, is apparently having trouble figuring out his own personal finances.
Plain Dealer: Josh Mandel's family ties make for fascinating politics
Steve Koff and the Plain Dealer delves into Josh Mandel's family's political ties:
The good news for Josh Mandel's candidacy for U.S. Senate is that his relatives by marriage include wealthy and generous political donors. The bad news: Some of them are Democrats supporting Sherrod Brown, the incumbent U.S. senator whom Mandel, a Republican, hopes to beat in 2012. One relative, Ronald Ratner, even held a fundraiser at his Shaker Heights home Tuesday for the Democratic National Committee.
Akron Beacon Journal editorial: Mandel of mystery
The Akron Beacon Journal editorialized on Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel's campaign tactics:
What Democrats have been reminding Mandel is that his establishing a campaign committee in early April set the clock ticking. He had 30 days to file a personal financial disclosure report with the Federal Election Commission. Four months later, he still hasn’t complied with the requirement. What amounted to the usual short-sheeting and towel-snapping by partisan adversaries cannot be dismissed so easily as the days and weeks mount. What is Mandel thinking?
MEMO: Josh Mandel: Raising Money & Raising Eyebrows
Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel has yet to do much in his campaign against Sen. Sherrod Brown. Well, he’s yet to do much besides raise money. And it seems he can’t even do that without raising eyebrows.
Last month it was revealed that 16 employees of Suarez Corporation, most of very modest means, all donated to the $5,000 to Mandel and/or Rep. Jim Renacci. As the Toledo Blade noted, “many of whom have never before given to federal campaigns.” The paper contacted one of the employees and wrote “When asked whether the company provided money or encouraged her to give, she said she couldn't talk about the matter at work.”
Mandel’s campaign has repeatedly skirted the issue and even recently proclaimed they were “proud” of the donations, despite their suspicious nature. Considering that Mandel is the Ohio State Treasurer, he should have a better idea where his money is coming from.
Read the full memo after the jump.Plain Dealer column: Add water, stir in creative leadership and demand greatness
Phillip Morris wrote a column for the Plain Dealer noting Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel's lack of "bedrock principles:
But now, as I watch him catapulted into national prominence, I'm starting to question the bedrock principles of Ohio's current treasurer. What does he really believe in? What does he really stand for? Have his views really deviated much further to the right than those he appeared to hold in his more formative political years, or is he allowing national strategists or those hungry for the next GOP stalwart to frame him?
Toledo Blade: Canton firm's workers making unusual donations
Tony Cook breaks a story about questionable donations to Josh Mandel's campaign.
When northern Ohio businessman Benjamin Suarez makes a big campaign contribution, few people are surprised. He owns a direct marketing company that does $100 million annually in sales, and he has a history of giving to Republicans. But in the current election cycle, a large number of his employees and their wives -- many of whom have never before given to federal campaigns -- have contributed to two specific congressional candidates: Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R., Wadsworth), who represents Ohio's 16th District.
Plain Dealer: Josh Mandel's finances include dozens of stocks, real estate and some recent wise buys
Steve Koff examines Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel's Ohio financial disclosure.
If you bought stock in Exxon Mobil last summer and held it until February, your profit could be as high as $30 a share. Except for a temporary dip, Exxon Mobil Corp. was on a path to make money for investors in 2010. That, presumably, is why Josh Mandel bought it.