Josh, you jerked your webpage, didn't you?

From John Curry, June 28, 2011
Monday, the party noted that Mr. Mandel had removed the page even though Mr. Mandel told The Blade last week that the FEC allegation was "baseless." Mr. Mandel was in Toledo Wednesday for a fund-raising event at the Toledo Club.

"Josh Mandel has been campaigning for office on the taxpayers' dime and he was called out. I think this amounts to an admission of wrong-doing," Mr. Barasky said.

I know, someone will be asking, "what does this have to do with STRS?" If they do then they certainly don't have memories from a few years back when Mandel wanted to shove divestiture down our retirees' throats, do they? Josh, being of the Jewish faith, would certainly understand the meaning of "Never Again." Well, Josh, this retiree also says "never again." "Never again" for you to be elected to another public office.

John

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/06/28/Mandel-Web-page-is-removed.html

Mandel Web page is removed

Democrats protested material taken from Ohio Treasury site

Toledo Blade, June 28, 2011
By Tom Troy
Blade Politics Writer

A page in U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel's campaign Web site that prompted a complaint to the Federal Elections Commission has been removed, and Democrats are claiming vindication.

Mr. Mandel, the Ohio state treasurer, is raising money to run for the Republican nomination to take on U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, next year. A Web page that ran on his Treasurer's Office Web site since March 21 summarizing his accomplishments was also on his campaign Web site. Over the weekend, that page disappeared from the campaign Web site.

The Ohio Democratic Party filed a complaint June 6 to the FEC claiming Mr. Mandel is barred by FEC regulations from using material produced by his treasury staff for his campaign. The complaint calls the material an illegal "in-kind" contribution by the state to his campaign.

Monday, the party noted that Mr. Mandel had removed the page even though Mr. Mandel told The Blade last week that the FEC allegation was baseless. Mr. Mandel was in Toledo Wednesday for a fund-raising event at the Toledo Club.

Justin Barasky, spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party, said Mr. Mandel wouldn't have taken down the disputed material if he didn't think the campaign may have violated campaign finance laws.

"Josh Mandel has been campaigning for office on the taxpayers' dime and he was called out. I think this amounts to an admission of wrong-doing," Mr. Barasky said.

The Mandel campaign said its choice of material for the Web site was not related to the FEC complaint. "Updating our campaign Web site has nothing to do with baseless attacks being lobbed by the Democratic Party in their effort to distract voters from Ohio's job loss under Sherrod Brown's watch," said Anthony Conchel, a consultant and spokesman for Mr. Mandel's still unofficial campaign.

"With the unfortunate news about the worsening economic situation in Ohio and the U.S., over the weekend we added a bunch of new stories about this worsening economic situation in our state because Sherrod Brown's policies have caused massive job loss in Ohio," Mr. Conchel said.

The material in question was titled "Treasurer's Office Update, March 21, 2011." The item listed six things the Treasurer's Office was doing, such as seeking to refinance $3 billion in Ohio debt with low-interest municipal bonds.

The page still appears on Mr. Mandel's Treasurer's Office Web site.

The Democratic Party's complaint alleged that Mr. Mandel's Senate campaign committee took the Web site, e-mail list, and other material from his 2010 state treasurer campaign without compensating the committee as required by the FEC.

Mr. Mandel established a senatorial campaign committee with the FEC in April but has yet to formally announce his Senate candidacy.

Contract Tom Troy at: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058