Mandel Memories: Josh Mandel’s Taxpayer-Funded Phone Chats

Failed candidate and corrupt politician Josh Mandel is attempting his third run for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, but we’re here to take you on another trip down memory lane as we review his biggest scandals.

We’ve covered his long history of shady campaign cash schemes and pay-to-play misconduct, investigated a case of a missing Mandel, took a look at his political cronyism, reviewed his record of granting special awards to his big money donors, and reminisced about his habit of campaigning on the taxpayers’ dime. 

This week, we’re diving further into Josh’s troublesome habit of using taxpayer funds to pay for self-serving “electioneering-like” events.

As Ohio State Treasurer, Josh Mandel hosted a series of taxpayer-funded tele-town hall meetings under the guise of official business. But the calls quickly raised “questions about elected officials using tax dollars to boost their own name recognition” as many of the subjects discussed had “little to do with Mandel’s job.” Experts declared that Mandel’s habit sounded “very much like electioneering” and that the calls raised “very serious concerns” over whether they were essentially campaign events. Mandel even conducted polling during the tele-town halls and collected “micro-targeted information that could be very valuable to any political candidate.”

“Time and time again, Josh Mandel abused hardworking Ohioans’ tax dollars to fund self-serving projects for his own personal political ambitions,” said DSCC spokesperson Stewart Boss. “Josh is an unethical, opportunistic politician and Ohioans don’t trust him because it’s clear he will do anything — even flagrantly abuse taxpayer dollars — to help advance his career.”

Dayton Daily News: Mandel’s tax-funded phone chats raise questions

• Republican Josh Mandel is the first Ohio statewide officeholder to use taxpayer dollars to hold “tele-townhall” meetings with Ohioans.

• The calls raise questions about elected officials using tax dollars to boost their own name recognition. Many of the subjects discussed have little to do with Mandel’s job, which is to invest and safe keep $11 billion in the state treasury.

• Mandel refers to callers by name, asks them how they’re doing, thanks them for their questions and deftly weaves in GOP-talking points on issues such as school choice, domestic energy exploration and tax cuts.

• “It sounds very much like electioneering to me,” Ohio State University political scientist Paul Beck said. “To spend treasurer’s office money on that when the topics range so far and wide from what the treasurer’s office does makes it more electioneering-like.”

• In response to a question during a call last week, Mandel acknowledged that the sessions were paid for with state money.

• On some of the calls a polling prompt asks participants to weigh in minute by minute on what they like and dislike — micro-targeted information that could be very valuable to any political candidate.

• In addition to the tele-townhall calls, Mandel is taking other taxpayer-funded steps that serve to boost his public profile.

• A review of his public calendar for Jan. 1 to June 1, shows he toured 22 plants, held 10 roundtable discussions or workshops, delivered 24 speeches and gave 22 media interviews. In contrast, in his first five months as treasurer, Mandel held five roundtable discussions, gave five media interviews, made eight speeches and toured no plants, according to his official public schedule.

• Mandel began the tele-townhalls at the same time he rolled out a newly created ‘Ohio Strong’ award for workers in the manufacturing sector — a program that has him traveling the state as he hands out awards to companies and employees through the program.

• Campaign finance filings reviewed by the Associated Press show Mandel’s re-election campaign received donations from executives at three of the firms within weeks of their skilled-trades employees being recognized. One executive said his contribution was solicited, according to the AP story.

• All of this comes as Mandel’s name is linked to a federal campaign finance corruption trial underway in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.

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