Josh Mandel
Josh Mandel | |
---|---|
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 17th district | |
In office 2007 - | |
Preceded by | Jim Trakas |
Succeeded by | Marlene Anielski (elect) |
Personal details | |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Lyndhurst, Ohio |
Alma mater | Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University |
Profession | U.S. Marines Corps Reservist |
Josh Mandel (Born September 27, 1977) is a Republican Ohio state representative and veteran of the War in Iraq, serving two tours of duty in Iraq as a U.S. Marine Intelligence Specialist. He is the Republican Ohio State Treasurer-elect.
Ohio Treasurer of State
In May 2009, Mandel announced his candidacy for Ohio Treasurer of State via web video.[1] As of the January 2010 mandatory filing deadline, Mandel claimed a 3:1 cash advantage over his Democratic opponent.[2]
In February 2010, Mandel gave an address at CPAC about the importance of leveraging social media, reaching out to young voters, working hard and standing on principle.[3] Mandel is challenging Democrat Kevin Boyce for the office.[4]
On November 2, 2010, Mandel was duly elected as Ohio State Treasurer, defeating incumbent Treasurer Kevin Boyce to become chief investment officer of state funds. Mandel's election marked the first time since 1958 that an incumbent Ohio Treasurer of State was defeated in a bid for reelection. [5] Mandel won 54.89% of the votes cast for the Treasurer's race. [6] Boyce won 40.21% of the votes cast for the race. [7] The large margin of Mandel's victory led The Plain Dealer to proclaim in an article's headline: "Republican challenger Josh Mandel crushes incumbent Kevin Boyce in Ohio treasurer's race." [8] Mandel received a total of 2,008,892 votes, which was more than any other candidate running for an Ohio statewide executive office in the November 2010 election. [9]
Education
Mandel attended Beachwood High School where he was the quarterback of his high school's football team.[10] Mandel holds a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University, where he served two terms as the undergraduate Student Government President. He also holds a law degree from Case Western Reserve University.[11]
Family
Mandel and his wife Ilana reside in Lyndhurst, Ohio, and were married August 28, 2008, in Jerusalem.[12]
Mandel's family emigrated to the United States. His grandfather Joe is from Poland, who is a Holocaust survivor, and his grandmother Fernanda is from Italy, who was hid by a Catholic family during World War II from the Nazis.[13] In a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition, he said the tribulations of his grandparents and family inspired him to public service.[13]
His grandfather Harold served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
Military service
Mandel enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, where he served eight years, including times as an Intelligence Specialist, having graduated first in his class from Marine Corps Boot Camp and first in his class from Marine Corps Intelligence School. His Marine Corps duty included two tours in Iraq, where he operated throughout the Al Anbar Province. During both tours, Mandel was awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal for "superior performance of his duties."[11][14]
Ohio Legislator
He currently serves as State Representative from the 17th Ohio House District. His district is located in southeast Cuyahoga County and includes 17 communities of various sizes.[15] In 2008 he was re-elected to a second term.[11]
Iran divestment legislation
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 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 worked out between state pension executives and Ohio House leadership, agreed to by Mandel.[16] 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.[17]
In April 2010, Mandel appeared on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" to discuss his leadership on Iran divestment in Ohio.[18]
Voting record
In the 128th Assembly, Mandel was one of only 19 house members to vote against HB108, a bill to make cockfighting a felony.[19] Mandel defended his vote by stating that he believed the General Assembly's time would be better spent focused on job creation, keeping people from leaving the state and returning fiscal responsibility to state government.[20]
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.[21][22]
Lyndhurst Councilman
Mandel's previous elected experience includes service as a Lyndhurst City Councilman, where he was elected in 2003 with more votes than any candidate for Council or Mayor. As Councilman, Mandel served three years on the Finance Committee, dealing with issues including long-term fiscal forecasting, municipal investment strategy and bond-rating protections. Additionally, Mandel introduced and led the fight for the first Property Tax Rollback in Lyndhurst history, which currently remains one of the only property tax rollbacks in Ohio history.[11]
Current Middle East operations
Mandel believes in the military operations being conducted in the Middle East. In October 2009, he appeared on the show "FOX & Friends" stating his support for the military surge plan to Afghanistan.[23] In an interview at the Republican Jewish Coalition quarterly meeting in Ft. Lauderdale in 2009, Mandel thanked former President George W. Bush for his support on Iraq, and would not have "played Monday morning quarterback" on the decisions concerning the war, offering no dissent on the operation.[24]
Israel
AIPAC
Mandel was a member of the AIPAC while studying at Ohio State, before joining the military.[25] In 2008, he attended the 2008 AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C, where he gave an address, and was quoted as saying "It was inspiring, the young people so motivated and gung ho about strengthening the Israel-United States relationship...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."[25]
At this conference, Mandel stated Iran was a threat, and discussed his divestment initiatives as a legislator in Ohio.[26]
Operation Cast Lead
In February 2009, during Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli government issued a statement thanking Mandel for his support of the operation.[27]
World Alliance for Israel PAC
In May 2009, Mandel was a panel participant at the 2009 Awards and Installation Dinner held by the World Alliance for Israel PAC in the Los Angeles area.[28]
References
- ^ Josh's Announcement Video - Josh Mandel
- ^ http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/01/mandel_raising_big_bucks_in_st.html
- ^ Ohio State Representative Josh Mandel at CPAC - Business Exchange
- ^ Josh Mandel announces campaign for state treasurer | cleveland.com
- ^ http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain.aspx
- ^ http://vote.sos.state.oh.us/pls/enrpublic/f?p=130:6:0
- ^ http://vote.sos.state.oh.us/pls/enrpublic/f?p=130:6:0
- ^ http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/11/ohio_treasurer_incumbent_boyce.html
- ^ http://vote.sos.state.oh.us/pls/enrpublic/f?p=130:6:0
- ^ http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/10/experience_as_a_marine_frames.html
- ^ a b c d "About Josh", Josh Mandel. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ "Overseas "I Do" Ilana & Josh", Elegant Weddings, August 28, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Mandel speech before Republican Jewish Coalition", YouTube. July 3, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ "Josh Mandel, Representative", Ohio House of Representatives. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ http://www.puc.state.oh.us/pucogis/NewDistricts/House_links2.pdf
- ^ "HB 151", Ohio State Legislature. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ "Arm-twisting gets Ohio pensions to divest from Iran, Sudan", Columbus Dispatch. June 7, 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ YouTube - Josh Mandel on CNBC
- ^ "Cockfighting should be a felony in Ohio". Cleveland Plain Dealer. December 10, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
- ^ Toughening Ohio's cockfighting laws isn't a pressing priority | cleveland.com
- ^ "Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund", Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
- ^ [1], Ohio House of Representatives Journal December 16, 2008.
- ^ "FOX and Friends", YouTube. October 7, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ "My Interview With Josh Mandel", THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS. March 30, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "AIPAC and Israeli Advocacy Impacts Young Adults", David's Voice, July 20, 2008.
- ^ "Jewish and Israel News", YouTube. May 4, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ "Latest News From Israel", Israel Consulate General, Philadelphia. February 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
- ^ "Black, Jewish and WAIPAC", Jewish Journal. May 6, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.