View source for Biography:Josh Mandel

{{Infobox officeholder 
|name         = Josh Mandel
|image        = Josh Mandel.jpg
|office       = 48th Treasurer of Ohio
|governor     = John Kasich
|term_start   = January 10, 2011
|term_end     = January 14, 2019
|predecessor  = Kevin Boyce
|successor    = Robert Sprague
|state_house1 = Ohio
|district1    = 17th
|term_start1  = January 1, 2007
|term_end1    = January 1, 2011
|predecessor1 = Jim Trakas
|successor1   = Marlene Anielski
|birth_name   = Joshua Aaron Mandel
|birth_date   = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1977|9|27}}}}
|birth_place  = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
|death_date   = 
|death_place  = 
|party        = Republican
|spouse       = {{marriage|Ilana Shafran|August 28, 2008}}
|children     = 3
|education    = [[Organization:Ohio State University|Ohio State University]] (BA)<br />[[Organization:Case Western Reserve University|Case Western Reserve University]] ([[Social:Juris Doctor|JD]])
|allegiance   = {{flag|United States}}
|branch       = [[File:Marine Forces Reserve high resolution emblem.jpg|20px|United States Marine Corps Reserve seal]] Marine Corps Reserve
|serviceyears = 2000–2008
|rank         = [[File:USMC-E5.svg|15px]] Sergeant
|battles      = Iraq War
}}
'''Joshua Aaron Mandel''' (born September 27, 1977) is an American Republican politician who served as the State Treasurer of Ohio from 2011 to 2019. Mandel is a former city councilman and member of the Ohio House of Representatives. He was the unsuccessful Republican challenger to incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown in the 2012 U.S. Senate election. In 2016, he announced his intention to again challenge Brown in 2018; he withdrew on January 5, 2018, citing family health reasons.<ref name=politico>{{cite news|last1=Robillard|first1=Kevin|title=Mandel drops out of Ohio Senate race vs. Sherrod Brown|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/05/josh-mandel-drops-out-ohio-senate-race-326866?lo=ap_a1|accessdate=5 January 2018|publisher=Politico|date=January 5, 2018}}</ref>

==Early life, education, and military service==
Mandel was born on September 27, 1977 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Rita (née Friedman) and Bruce Mandel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/beachwood/index.ssf/2012/01/ohio_treasurer_josh_mandel_spe.html |title=Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel speaks on citizenship at Hilltop Elementary School in Beachwood |work=The Plain Dealer |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mazel Tov |url=http://www.greenroadsynagogue.org/bulletins/5768/Elul-5768.pdf|publisher=Green Road Synagogue|format=PDF|date=September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/article_92518772-50ba-583b-8df5-170ac45a5c62.html |title=Duber-Mandel |publisher=Cleveland Jewish News |date=February 13, 2009 |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref> He has a sister, Rachel. He attended Beachwood High School where he was the quarterback of the football team.<ref name="PD Oct 19, 2010">{{cite news|title=Experience as a Marine frames Josh Mandel's candidacy for Ohio treasurer|first=Joe |last=Guillen|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/10/experience_as_a_marine_frames.html|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|date=October 19, 2010|accessdate=May 19, 2011}}</ref> Mandel attended The Ohio State University where he earned a BA in communication. At Ohio State, he served two terms as the undergraduate student government president. While there he was also a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aepi.org/default.asp?page=FamousAlumni |title=Notable Alumni – Alpha Epsilon Pi |publisher=Aepi.org |accessdate=October 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928151453/http://www.aepi.org/default.asp?page=FamousAlumni |archivedate=September 28, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> After graduating in 2000, he earned a [[Social:Juris Doctor|JD]] from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.<ref name="About Josh">{{cite web|url=http://www.joshmandel.com/about-josh|title=About Josh|publisher=JoshMandel.com|accessdate=May 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509030517/http://www.joshmandel.com/about-josh|archivedate=May 9, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Mandel enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, where he served eight years as an intelligence specialist. His first tour was from February to November 2004, during which he was attached to a light armored reconnaissance battalion. He left for his second tour in September 2007. Attached to an infantry battalion, Mandel served in the city of [[Place:Haditha|Haditha]].<ref name="PD Oct 19, 2010" />

==Political career==

===Lyndhurst councilman===
Mandel's experience as an elected official began as a Lyndhurst, Ohio city councilman, where he was elected in 2003. He served three years on the council's finance committee.

On January 24, 2005, Mandel sent a letter to Lyndhurst residents, proposing a one time tax rebate of $400, paying the postage for the letters from his campaign fund.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lyndhurst-oh.com/prevsite/agendas_and_minutes_q1_2005.html | title = Q1 2005 Agendas & Minutes | publisher = City of Lyndhurst | accessdate = June 28, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite news | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CPDB&p_theme=cpdb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=ott%20AND%20date(1/27/2005%20to%201/28/2005)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=1/27/2005%20to%201/28/2005)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(ott)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no  | title = Councilman seeks tax rebate in Lyndhurst: Wants to give every homeowner $400 out of city's large surplus | newspaper = cleveland.com (The Plain Dealer) | author =  Thomas Ott | date = January 27, 2005 | accessdate = June 28, 2012 }}</ref> Faced with opposition from fellow council members, Mandel introduced and advocated for a 2 [[Finance:Mill (currency)|mill]] property tax rollback, which would have saved the average homeowner $100 a year on a home valued at $160,000.<ref>{{ cite news | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CPDB&p_theme=cpdb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=Flournoy%20AND%20date(3/4/2005%20to%203/4/2005)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=3/4/2005%20to%203/4/2005)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Flournoy)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no| title = Lyndhurst backs off tax rebate: Councilman reacts to opposition, proposes rate rollback | newspaper = cleveland.com (The Plain Dealer) | author =  Tasha Flournoy | date = March 4, 2005 | accessdate = June 28, 2012 }}</ref> What passed council, on April 4, 2005, was a 1.5 mill rollback, which saved the average homeowner $75 a year.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lyndhurst-oh.com/prevsite/enews/05242005/index.html | title = Lyndhurst Neighborhood E-News | date = May–June 2005 | author = Joseph M. Cicero, Jr., Mayor | publisher = City of Lyndhurst | accessdate = June 28, 2012 }}</ref>

===Ohio House of Representatives===

====Elections====
Mandel was first elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in November 2006.<ref name="Mandel_About">{{cite web
 |url         = http://jobs.joshmandel.com/about-josh
 |title       = About Josh Mandel
 |work        = Jobs.JoshMandel.com
 |publisher   = Citizens for Josh Mandel, Inc
 |accessdate  = October 11, 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121001155751/http://jobs.joshmandel.com/about-josh
 |archivedate = October 1, 2012
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref><ref name="KTRH_2008">{{cite web
  | last = Patrick
  | first = Matt
  | url = http://www.ktrh.com/pages/mattpatrick.html?feed=269930&article=4264029
  | title = Rep. Josh Mandel Talks About Biden In OH, And The Upcoming Election
  | publisher = KTRH 740 AM News Radio
  | date = September 18, 2008
  | accessdate = October 11, 2012
}}</ref>
He represented Ohio's 17th House district, consisting of 17 communities of various sizes in southeastern Cuyahoga County. Mandel was re-elected to a second term in 2008.

====Tenure====
Mandel's first piece of legislation as a State Representative, H.B. 151, was an initiative to force the multibillion-dollar Ohio pension funds to divest from companies doing business in [[Religion:Iran|Iran]]. He joined State Representative Shannon Jones (R) in an attempt to make Ohio the first state in the nation to divest from Iran, but the legislation was never signed into law due to a compromise between state pension executives and Ohio House leadership, agreed to by Mandel.<ref>[http://lsc.state.oh.us/coderev/hou127.nsf/House+Bill+Number/0151?OpenDocument "HB 151"], Ohio State Legislature. Retrieved November 29, 2009.</ref> Then-Speaker of the Ohio House Jon Husted brokered a deal to drop half of the state's investments in Iran and Sudan with the eventual goal of removing all investment from the two countries.<ref name="CD June 7, 2007">{{cite news|title=Arm-twisting gets Ohio pensions to divest from Iran, Sudan|author=James Nash|url=http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/06/07/divest.html|newspaper=The Columbus Dispatch|date=June 7, 2007|accessdate=May 20, 2011}}</ref> In April 2010, Mandel appeared on {{wipe|CNBC}}'s "Squawk on the Street" to discuss his leadership on Iran divestment in Ohio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDRORye2380 |title=YouTube – Josh Mandel on CNBC |publisher=YouTube |date=April 20, 2010 |accessdate=October 12, 2011}}</ref>

In the 127th Assembly, Mandel, along with other members of the Ohio House who served in Iraq, were excused from voting on HB649 in December 2008, which provided payments to military veterans of the Middle East wars and compensation to families who had lost loved ones in the conflicts.<ref>[http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=23228&can_id=60051 "Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund"], Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 14, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://archives.legislature.state.oh.us/JournalText127/HJ-12-16-08.pdf], Ohio House of Representatives Journal December 16, 2008.</ref>

In the 128th Assembly, Mandel was one of 19 house members to vote against HB108, a bill to make cockfighting a felony.<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/12/cockfighting_should_be_a_felon.html "Cockfighting should be a felony in Ohio"]. ''The Plain Dealer''. December 10, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2009.</ref> Mandel said that the legislation was not a pressing priority for the state and that the General Assembly should spend its time in other ways.<ref>{{cite web|author=Other Voices |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2009/12/toughening_ohios_cockfighting.html |title=Toughening Ohio's cockfighting laws isn't a pressing priority &#124; cleveland.com |work=The Plain Dealer |accessdate=October 12, 2011}}</ref>

Also in the 128th Assembly, Mandel voted against the Ohio House Bill 176,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_176 |title=128 HB 176|publisher=Ohio House of Representatives |accessdate=October 12, 2011}}</ref> the Equal Housing and Employment Act which "[p]rohibits discriminatory practices on the basis of "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" under many of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) Law's existing prohibitions against various unlawful discriminatory practices.".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.legislature.state.oh.us/analysis.cfm?ID=128_HB_176&ACT=As%20Passed%20by%20House&hf=analyses128/h0176-ph-128.htm |title=Laws, Acts, and Legislation |publisher=Legislature.state.oh.us |accessdate=October 12, 2011}}</ref> The bill passed the Ohio House by a vote of 56 to 39.

===State Treasurer===

In May 2009, Mandel announced his candidacy for Ohio Treasurer of State via web video.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090531053000/http://www.joshmandel.com/page/announcement-video Josh's Announcement Video – Josh Mandel]</ref> Mandel's campaign generated controversy in late September 2010 when it ran a TV commercial falsely suggesting that Mandel's opponent, African-American Kevin Boyce, was a Muslim.<ref name="PD Oct 8, 2010">{{cite news|title=Josh Mandel to stop airing controversial television ad with reference to a mosque|author=Joe Guillen|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/10/mandel_to_stop_airing_controve.html|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|date=October 8, 2010 |accessdate=May 19, 2011}}</ref> The commercial was criticized for playing on [[Religion:Islamophobia|anti-Muslim bias]],<ref name="PD Oct 8, 2010" /> and was ultimately withdrawn by the Mandel campaign.<ref name="PD Oct 10, 2010">{{cite news|title=The Plain Dealer endorses Matthew P. Cantrell for Ohio treasurer: editorial|url=http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/10/the_plain_dealer_endorses_matt.html|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|date=October 10, 2010|accessdate=May 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{ cite news | url = http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/negative-attitudes-1.186415 | title = ''Editorial'': Negative attitudes: A sampling of the nastiness on the campaign trail | newspaper = The Akron Beacon Journal | date = October 13, 2010 | accessdate = June 26, 2012 }}</ref> However, voters subsequently received a campaign mailing with similar themes. The Mandel campaign said that the Ohio Republican Party was responsible for the mailers, which had already been sent bulk rate, up to a week prior.<ref>{{ cite news | url = http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2010/10/11/new_mandel_ad_just_as_scummy_d.html | title = New Mandel ad just as scummy, Dems say | newspaper = Dayton Daily News | author =  Laura Bischoff | date = October 11, 2010 | accessdate = June 26, 2012 }}</ref>

In October 2010, in response to an Ohio Democratic Party complaint, the Ohio Elections Commission found that Mandel had deceptively depicted Boyce (an African Methodist Episcopal) as a Muslim in the ads.<ref>{{ cite news | url = http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2010/10/28/elections_commission_panel_rul.html | title = Elections commission panel rules against Kasich, Husted | newspaper = Dayton Daily News | author =  Anthony Shoemaker | author2 =  Lynn Hulsey | author3 = Laura A. Bischoff | date = October 28, 2010 | accessdate = June 26, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="cd-mosque">{{cite news | work = Columbus Dispatch | title = Strickland told truth in anti-Kasich ad, elections panel finds; Mandel's 'mosque' ad against Boyce deceptive, group says | url = http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2010/10/28/ohio-elections-commission-strickland.html | date = October 28, 2010 | accessdate = September 5, 2012 | first = Darrel | last = Rowland |author2=Jim Siegel}}</ref> On November 2, 2010, Mandel was elected Ohio State Treasurer, defeating Boyce by 14 percentage points to become chief investment officer of state funds.<ref name="PD Nov 2, 2010">{{cite news|title=Republican challenger Josh Mandel crushes incumbent Kevin Boyce in Ohio treasurer's race|author=Michael Scott|url=http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/11/ohio_treasurer_incumbent_boyce.html|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|date=November 2, 2010|accessdate=May 20, 2011}}</ref> Mandel was sworn in on January 10, 2011.

During Mandel's time as treasurer, Ohio retained the highest possible rating from Standard & Poor's for the state's $4 billion government investment fund.<ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson |first=Alan |url=http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2011/09/ohio-retains-top-investment-rating-while-others-are-downgraded.html |title=Ohio investment fund retains top rating while others are downgraded |publisher=Dispatch Politics |date=September 8, 2011 |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref>  On March 19, 2012, Mandel severed contracts with two major banks that handled $41 billion in Ohio pension investments, amid government investigations into whether the banks overcharged clients for currency trading accusing them of "systematically exploiting public pension funds and taxpayers."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303812904577291850258787424?mod=googlenews_wsj | work=The Wall Street Journal | first1=Matthias | last1=Rieker | first2=Jean | last2=Eaglesham | title=Ohio Jettisons 2 Trust Banks | date=March 19, 2012}}</ref>

Mandel was reelected to a second term as state treasurer in 2014,<ref name="PD Nov 7, 2012">{{cite news|title=Mandel says he’ll seek re-election in 2014|author=Jackie Borchardt|url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/mandel-says-hell-seek-re-election-in-2014/nSzr8/|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|date=November 7, 2012|accessdate=November 11, 2012}}</ref> defeating Democratic State Representative Connie Pillich.<ref>{{ cite news | url = http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/11/connie_pillich_concedes_to_jos.html | title = Connie Pillich concedes to Josh Mandel Ohio treasurer's race | last = Borchardt | first = Jackie | newspaper = Northeast Ohio Media Group (The Plain Dealer) | date = November 5, 2014 | accessdate = November 8, 2014 }}</ref>

====OhioCheckbook.com====
On December 2, 2014 Mandel launched OhioCheckbook.com, a website that reports every expenditure in state government,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dispatch.com/article/20141202/NEWS/312029622|title=Want to know how the state is spending money? You can find it online now|last=Dispatch|first=Alan Johnson, The Columbus|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=2018-08-07|language=en}}</ref> in an effort, according to Mandel, to "create an army of citizen watchdogs who have the power to hold politicians accountable."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/12/online_checkbook_allows_taxpay.html|title=Online checkbook allows taxpayers to track state spending|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2018-08-07|language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2018, Mandel was awarded the "Transparency in Government Award" by the State Financial Officers Foundation for his work on OhioCheckbook.com and promoting greater government spending transparency in Ohio and across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statefinancialofficers.org/2018-sfof-award-winners/|title=State Financial Officers Foundation   –  2018 SFOF Award Winners|website=www.statefinancialofficers.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-25}}</ref>

====STABLE Accounts====
In summer 2015, Ohio passed legislation granting the Ohio Treasurer's Office the authority to open and administer ABLE accounts; such accounts are a federally-authorized, state-run savings program for eligible people with disabilities. In June 2016, Mandel began offering the nation's first ABLE accounts, called in Ohio "STABLE Accounts".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2016/06/09/putting-away-money-for-disabled-gets-easier-with-state-program.html|title=Putting away money for disabled gets easier with new state program|last=Dispatch|first=Mark Williams, The Columbus|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=2018-08-17|language=en}}</ref> The Ohio Treasurer's Office, in addition to administering Ohio's STABLE Accounts, also jointly administers the ABLE accounts in Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.<ref>{{cite web |title=ABLE Program Implementation |date=2017-08-23 |publisher=The Arc |url=http://www.thearc.org/what-we-do/public-policy/issues/able-program-implementation |access-date=2017-11-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Oklahoma STABLE | date = 2018 | publisher = Oklahoma State Treasurer | url = https://okstable.org/ | accessdate = August 23, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = WVABLE | date = 2018 | publisher = John Perdue (West Virginia State Treasurer) | url = https://wvable.com/ | accessdate = August 23, 2018 }}</ref>

==== Advertising controversy ====
In 2016 and 2017, the Ohio Treasurer's Office under Mandel spent almost $1.7 million in taxpayer-funded television ads, featuring him and Urban Meyer, the head coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.<ref name="Borchardt">Jackie Borchardt, [http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/ohio_taxpayers_spent_13_millio.html Ohio taxpayers spent $1.7 million on TV ads featuring Josh Mandel, Urban Meyer], ''Plain Dealer'' (February 21, 2017).</ref> Mandel's office made each payment for the ads to individual television stations in an amount less than $50,000 per fiscal year, thus circumventing the need for approval by the state Controlling Board, which must sign-off on state payments over this amount.<ref name="Borchardt"/><ref name="BischoffAds">Laura A. Bischoff, [http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/ohio-treasurer-ran-state-funded-ads-just-before-announcing-senate-run/S7WlOG0bhSkFCgaGN0URvJ/ Ohio treasurer ran state-funded ads just before announcing Senate run], ''Dayton Daily News'' (February 17, 2017).</ref> Thirteen ad buys were within $1,000 of the $50,000 threshold.<ref name="Borchardt"/> Mandel defended the ads, saying they helped increase awareness of an investment program for disabled Ohioans. Critics questioned the airing of self-promotional ads at a time when Mandel was running for U.S. Senate and said that Mandel's office was trying to avoid scrutiny by structuring the ad buys to avoid Controlling Board approval.<ref name="Borchardt"/><ref name="BischoffAds"/>

In response to the controversy, the Ohio House introduced an amendment to the state's 2017 budget. The amendment would require approval by the Controlling Board for ad buys that in aggregate exceed $50,000. This rule would have prevented Mandel from avoiding oversight by distributing the advertising campaign among individual ad buys.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170428/gop-lawmakers-target-mandel-with-budget-amendment|title=GOP lawmakers target Mandel with budget amendment|last=Schladen|first=Marty|date=2017-04-28|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=2017-05-07|language=en}}</ref> Mandel did not attend an Ohio Senate hearing on the matter. He sent a deputy instead.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://radio.wosu.org/post/josh-mandel-skips-hearing-over-taxpayer-funded-television-spots|title=Josh Mandel Skips Hearing Over Taxpayer Funded Television Spots|last=Associated Press|first=|date=2017-05-09|work=WOSU|access-date=2017-05-10|language=en}}</ref>

====OhioCrypto.com====
On November 25, 2018, Mandel made Ohio the first state in America to enable taxpayers to pay taxes with [[Finance:Cryptocurrency|cryptocurrency]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/ohio-to-accept-bitcoin-for-tax-bills|title=Ohio to accept bitcoin for tax bills|last=Scipioni|first=Jade|date=November 26, 2018|work=Fox Business|access-date=December 3, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> This initiative, OhioCrypto.com, was described by Mandel as an effort to provide more options to Ohio taxpayers and to project Ohio as a state that is embracing [[Finance:Blockchain|blockchain]] technology.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/29/ohio-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-blockchain-businesses-by-accepting-bitcoin-this-tax-season.html|title=Ohio 'rolls out the red carpet' for blockchain businesses by accepting bitcoin this tax season|last=Rooney|first=Kate|date=November 29, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref>  Mandel described himself as a cryptocurrency enthusiast and said that he hopes the launch of OhioCrypto.com will bring more legitimacy to cryptocurrency.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theneweconomy.com/technology/ohio-accepts-bitcoin-as-payment-for-corporate-taxes | title = Ohio accepts bitcoin as payment for corporate taxes | last = Perryer | first = Sophie | magazine = The New Economy | date = November 26, 2018 | publisher = World News Media | accessdate= December 3, 2018 | language = en-US}}</ref>

===2012 U.S. Senate election===
Mandel was the Republican nominee to challenge Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in the 2012 General Election.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jay LaPrete, Associated Press |url=http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/ohio_treasurer_josh_mandel_win.html |title=Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel wins GOP primary for U.S. Senate, set to face Sherrod Brown in November |work=The Plain Dealer |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref>  Josh Mandel officially announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate March 1, 2012, in a speech to the Akron Press Club.<ref>{{cite web|last=Trexler |first=Phil |url=http://www.ohio.com/news/local/state-treasurer-announces-he-s-running-for-u-s-senate-1.268002 |title=State treasurer announces he's running for U.S. Senate – Local |work=Akron Beacon Journal |date=March 1, 2012 |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref>  He won the March 6, 2012 Republican primary with 63% of the vote in a five candidate race.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/2012-election/map/#/Senate/2012/Primary/OH 2012 Ohio election map]. Politico.</ref>

Mandel earned the endorsement of several prominent conservative politicians including: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Sen. John McCain.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smyth|first=Julie Carr|title=John McCain, Chris Christie campaign for Ohio GOP Senate candidate Josh Mandel|url=http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/state/john-mccain-chris-christie-campaign-for-ohio-gop-senate-candidate-josh-mandel|archive-url=https://archive.is/20120908052429/http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/state/john-mccain-chris-christie-campaign-for-ohio-gop-senate-candidate-josh-mandel|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2012|publisher=Newsnet5.com|date=April 16, 2012}}</ref> Mandel received the endorsement of the Club for Growth,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clubforgrowth.org/endorsedcandidates/ |title=Mark Neumann (WI-Sen) |publisher=Clubforgrowth.org |date=September 1, 2011 |accessdate=October 12, 2011}}</ref> Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund,<ref name="senateconservatives1">{{cite web |url=http://senateconservatives.com/site/post/677/scf-endorses-josh-mandel-in-ohio |title=Senate Conservatives Fund — Josh Mandel for U.S. Senate in Ohio (June 27, 2011) |publisher=Senateconservatives.com |date=June 27, 2011 |accessdate=October 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914190655/http://senateconservatives.com/site/post/677/scf-endorses-josh-mandel-in-ohio |archivedate=September 14, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Senator Rob Portman, Congressman Jim Jordan<ref name="senateconservatives1"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Catanese |first=David |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0811/Jordan_backs_Mandel_.html?showall |title=Jordan backs Mandel |publisher=Politico |date=August 22, 2011 |accessdate=October 12, 2011}}</ref> and conservative commentators Hugh Hewitt and Mark Levin.

Mandel's campaign was singled out by the independent fact-checking group Politifact for its "casual relationship with the truth" and its tendency to "double down" after inaccuracies were pointed out. The fact-checking group wrote: "For all the gifts Mandel has, from his compelling personal narrative as an Iraq war veteran to a well-oiled fundraising machine, whoppers are fast becoming a calling card of his candidacy."<ref name="politifact-age">{{cite web | publisher = Politifact | title = Even in an age of fact checking, the whopper lives | first= Henry | last = Gomez | url = http://www.politifact.com/ohio/article/2012/mar/26/even-age-fact-checking-whopper-lives/ | date = March 26, 2012 | accessdate= July 5, 2012}}</ref>

Mandel had raised $7.2 million through the first quarter of 2012; his $5.3 million cash on hand trailed Brown's $6.3 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wehrman|first=Jessica|title=Incumbents winning in fundraising|url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/election/incumbents-winning-in-fundraising-1360963.html|accessdate=April 30, 2012|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|date=April 16, 2012}}</ref> Mandel benefited from massive support from conservative out-of-state superPACs, which raise unlimited amounts of money from anonymous donors. These outside groups, including Crossroads GPS, aired $10 million in TV advertising supporting Mandel and attacking Brown as of July 2012, outspending Democratically-aligned outside groups by more than five-to-one.<ref name="npr-ohio">{{cite news | publisher = NPR | url = https://www.npr.org/2012/07/05/156268298/ohio-senator-vulnerable-for-health-law-support | title = Ohio Senator Vulnerable For Health Law Support | first = David | last = Welna | date = July 5, 2012 | accessdate = July 5, 2012}}</ref> Mandel's campaign was aided by over $1 million spent primarily on attack ads by a 501(c)(4) organization called the "Government Integrity Fund".<ref>{{cite news | first = Justin | last = Elliot | title = Revealed: The Dark Money Group Attacking Sen. Sherrod Brown | date = September 7, 2012 | url = https://www.propublica.org/article/revealed-the-dark-money-group-attacking-sen-sherrod-brown/ | work = ProPublica | accessdate = September 9, 2012}}</ref>

Mandel lost to Sherrod Brown, the incumbent Democrat in the November 6, 2012 General Election, losing 45% to 51%.<ref>{{cite news | first = Joe | last = Vardon | title = Brown wins re-election to U.S. Senate | date = November 6, 2012 | url = http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/public/2012/11/US-senate-race.html | work = Columbus Dispatch | accessdate = November 6, 2012}}</ref>

In August 2013, Mandel was accused of violating federal and state campaign laws by using a vehicle owned by his U.S. Senate campaign for personal use unrelated to the campaign. No charges were brought and there was no case made against him. Mandel was involved in a traffic accident with the vehicle on March 5, 2013 near Toledo, Ohio, nearly four months after the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dems, others pounce on questions over Treasurer Josh Mandel's use of a vehicle owned by his Senate campaign|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/08/dems_others_pounce_on_question.html|work=The Plain Dealer|accessdate=August 29, 2013|author=Robert Higgs|date=August 27, 2013}}</ref>

===2018 U.S. Senate election===
In December 2016, Mandel announced that he would seek election to the United States Senate in the 2018 election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2016/12/ohio_treasurer_josh_mandel_ann.html|title=Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel announces 2018 U.S. Senate run for Sherrod Brown's seat|work=The Plain Dealer|date=December 7, 2016|accessdate=December 7, 2016|first=Andrew|last=Tobias}}</ref>

In late 2016, a [[Social:Political action committee#Super PACs|Super PAC]] called Ohio Freedom Fund was created in order to help elect Mandel. The Ohio Freedom Fund's primary contributor is Citizens for a Working America, a nonprofit not subject to campaign finance disclosures. At the time that the Ohio Freedom Fund Super PAC was created, Mandel, in his capacity as state treasurer, was appearing in a series of advertisements promoting a new investment program for families with special needs children. Mandel's office said the ads were taped and aired before Mandel was a candidate for U.S. Senate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/090e452b4bd8479eadadd836596eb5fb/Dark-money-group-backs-super-PAC-pushing-Mandel-Senate-bid|title=Dark money group backs super PAC pushing Mandel Senate bid|last=Carr Smyth|first=Julia|date=2017-04-11|work=AP News|access-date=2017-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413072156/https://apnews.com/090e452b4bd8479eadadd836596eb5fb/Dark-money-group-backs-super-PAC-pushing-Mandel-Senate-bid|archive-date=2017-04-13|url-status=dead|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170411/300000-in-dark-money-raised-to-help-josh-mandel-in-2018-us-senate-race|title=$300,000 in 'dark money' raised to help Josh Mandel in 2018 US Senate race|last=Schladen|first=Martin|date=2017-04-12|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=2017-04-12|language=en}}</ref>

In July 2017, Mandel stated his support for [[Religion:Alt-right|alt-right]] activists and conspiracy theorists Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec after Cernovich and Posobiec were criticized in an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) report. Mandel accused the ADL of being a "partisan witchhunt group" and tweeted "I stand with @Cernovich & @JackPosobiec."<ref>Gideon Resnick, [http://www.thedailybeast.com/josh-mandel-ohio-republican-senate-candidate-i-stand-with-mike-cernovich-and-jack-posobiec Josh Mandel, Ohio Republican Senate Candidate: I Stand With Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec], ''Daily Beast'' (July 20, 2017).</ref>

Mandel dropped out of the race on January 5, 2018, citing the need to spend more time with his family relating to his wife's health issues.<ref name=politico/>

==Political positions==

===Health care reform===
Mandel has called for the repeal of the [[Finance:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2012/Mar/21/ar_news_032112_story3.asp?d=032112_story3,2012,Mar,21&c=n |title=Mandel blasts new EPA regulations – Wednesday, March 21, 2012 &#124; Courier Electronic Edition – Findlay, Ohio: LOCAL NEWS |publisher=Thecourier.com |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref> In a campaign advertisement during his 2012 Senatorial run, Mandel claimed opponent Sherrod Brown "cast the deciding vote on the government takeover of health care". Politifact has labeled as false the claim that Brown cast the deciding vote for the act. The description of the act as a government takeover of health care, by Mandel, has been labeled by Politifact as "nonsensical" and a "myth".<ref name="politifact-aca">{{cite web | publisher = Politifact | url = http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2012/may/30/josh-mandel/josh-mandel-says-sherrod-brown-cast-deciding-vote-/ | title = Josh Mandel says Sherrod Brown cast the deciding vote for a government takeover of health care | accessdate= July 5, 2012 }}</ref>

===Climate change and energy===
Mandel rejects the [[Earth:Scientific opinion on climate change|scientific consensus on climate change]]. He has referred to climate change research as "riddled with fraud" and has vowed to fight attempts to advance clean-air standards.<ref name="PlainD 2012-8-26"/>

Mandel has called for what he terms as "aggressive and responsible" energy exploration that protects "the air we breathe and water we drink" while reducing environmental regulation.<ref name="wapakdailynews1">{{cite web|last=Laney |first=William |url=http://www.wapakdailynews.com/content/mandel-runs-job-growth |title=Mandel runs on job growth |publisher=Wapakoneta Daily News |date=March 21, 2012 |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref> He supports the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204630904577057890734267020 | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Josh | last=Mandel | title=Washington Targets Ohio Shale Gas | date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> Mandel is a supporter of expanded coal plants and has criticized what he has termed as "radical" environmental groups.<ref name="PlainD 2012-8-26">{{cite news | first = Henry | last = Gomez | title = U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel voices skepticism about global warming in pre-convention interview | date = August 26, 2012 | url = http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/08/us_senate_candidate_josh_mande.html | work = The Plain Dealer | accessdate = October 14, 2012}}</ref>

===Iraq and Afghanistan===
In 2012, Mandel said that he disagreed with plans to set a "date certain" for withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, also stating that "at some point in time, we have to take the training wheels off and we have to allow those countries to stand on their own two feet."<ref>Molly Ball, [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/03/is-josh-mandel-the-next-marco-rubio/253956/ Is Josh Mandel the Next Marco Rubio?], ''The Atlantic'' (March 5, 2012).</ref>

===Israel===
Mandel was a member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee at The Ohio State University.<ref name=DV>[http://www.davidsvoice.org/page.aspx?id=178106 "AIPAC and Israeli Advocacy Impacts Young Adults"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221922/http://davidsvoice.org/page.aspx?id=178106 |date=July 25, 2011 }}, David's Voice, July 20, 2008.</ref> He spoke at the 2008 AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C, where he said, "Israel is our best friend and ally in the Middle East and it's important that we maintain a strong and lasting relationship with them."<ref name=DV/> In the same speech, Mandel stated Iran was a threat and discussed his divestment initiatives as a legislator in Ohio.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7aCzRgGwSw "Jewish and Israel News"], YouTube. May 4, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.</ref>

===Foreign policy===
In 2012, Mandel broke with Mitt Romney on foreign policy concerning the status of U.S. military forces in Europe, advocating for their withdrawal.<ref>[https://www.c-span.org/video/?308960-1/ohio-senate-debate&start=2887 "Ohio Senate Debate"], CSPAN. October 25, 2012. Retrieved 8 feb 2017</ref>

==Personal life==
Mandel and his wife Ilana reside in Beachwood, Ohio with their three children, Rosie, Judah, and Gideon.  They were married August 28, 2008, in [[Place:Jerusalem|Jerusalem]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110710181137/http://www.elegantweddingmag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=About+Us&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=9645240DED75499FBF4065DC4E527D2E "Overseas "I Do" Ilana & Josh"], Elegant Weddings, August 28, 2008. Retrieved October 1 2017.</ref>

Mandel said in a speech that his maternal grandfather, Joe, is originally from {{wipe|Poland}} and is a Holocaust survivor, while his maternal grandmother, Fernanda, is originally from Italy and was hidden from the Nazis by a Catholic family during World War II.<ref name=RJC>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQqnm0yaJUg "Mandel speech before Republican Jewish Coalition"], YouTube. July 3, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2009.</ref> In a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition, he said the tribulations of his grandparents and family inspired him to public service.<ref name=RJC/>

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="34" |Election results
|-
!Year
!Office
!Election
!
!Subject
!Party
!Votes
!%
!
!Opponent
!Party
!Votes
!%
!
!Opponent
!Party
!Votes
!%
!
!Opponent
!Party
!Votes
!%
!
!Opponent
!Party
!Votes
!%
!
!Opponent
!Party
!Votes
!%
!
|-
|2012
|U.S. Senator
|Primary
|
|'''Josh Mandel'''
|'''Republican'''
|'''586,556'''
|'''63.02'''
|
|Michael Pryce
|Republican
|132,205
|14.20
|
|Donna Glisman
|Republican
|115,621
|12.42
|
|David Dodt
|Republican
|47,933
|5.15
|
|Eric Gregory
|Republican
|47,740
|5.13
|
|Russell Bliss
|Republican
|644
|0.07
|
|}
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
! colspan="24" style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results<ref>{{cite news | title = Election Results | url = http://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/Research/electResultsMain.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120815184807/http://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/Research/electResultsMain.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 15, 2012 | work = Ohio Secretary of State | accessdate = March 9, 2014 }}</ref>
|-
!'''Year'''
!'''Election'''
!
!'''Subject'''
!'''Party'''
!'''Votes'''
!'''%'''
!
!'''Opponent'''
!'''Party'''
!'''Votes'''
!'''%'''
!
!'''Opponent'''
!'''Party'''
!'''Votes'''
!'''%'''
!
|-
|2006
|Ohio House of Representatives
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Josh Mandel'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Republican'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''36,729'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''67%'''
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Roger J. Goudy
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |18,047
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |33%
|
|||||||||
|-
|2008
|Ohio House of Representatives
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Josh Mandel'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Republican'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''48,280'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''72%'''
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Bob Belovich
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |19,119
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |28%
|
|||||||||
|-
|2010
|Ohio State Treasurer
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Josh Mandel'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Republican'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''2,050,142'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''55%'''
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Kevin Boyce
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |1,525,992
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |41%
|
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Matthew Cantrell
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Libertarian
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |184,478
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |5%
|
|-
|2012
|U.S. Senator
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Josh Mandel
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |2,435,744
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |45%
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Sherrod Brown'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Democratic'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''2,762,766'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''51%'''
|
| {{Party shading/None}} |Scott Rupert
| {{Party shading/None}} |Independent
| {{Party shading/None}} |250,617
| {{Party shading/None}} |4%
|
|-
|2014
|Ohio State Treasurer
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Josh Mandel'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Republican'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''1,724,060'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''57%'''
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Connie Pillich
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |1,323,325
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |43%
|
|||||||||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://tos.ohio.gov/ State Treasurer of Ohio]
* [http://www.joshmandel.com/ Josh Mandel campaign website]
* {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=60051 | fec=C00510537 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://ballotpedia.org/Josh_Mandel Biography] at [[Ballotpedia]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=8225 Financial information (federal office)] at OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=8225 Financial information (state office)] at the National Institute for Money in State Politics
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Josh_Mandel.htm Issue positions and quotes] at On the Issues
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/joshmandel Appearances] on {{wipe|C-SPAN}} programs
* -->
* {{C-SPAN|joshmandel}}
* [http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/02/round_the_rotunda_statewide_ca.html/ Statewide candidates stake their positions: Round the Rotunda]
* [http://www.politifact.com/personalities/josh-mandel/ Josh Mandel's file] at Politifact
* [http://topics.cleveland.com/tag/josh-mandel/index.html Collected news and commentary] at the ''Cleveland Plain Dealer''

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Kevin Boyce}}
{{s-ttl|title=Treasurer of Ohio|years=2011–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=Robert Sprague}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Mike DeWine}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Ohio}}<br />(Class 1)|years=2012}}
{{s-aft|after=Jim Renacci}}
{{s-end}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mandel, Josh}}
[[Category:Climate change skepticism and denial]]

{{Sourceattribution|Josh Mandel|1}}