Mandel Received So-Called “Award” From United Conservatives Of Ohio Before He Was Treasurer
COLUMBUS, OHIO – In another desperate attempt by Josh Mandel to distract from the rampant absenteeism and cronyism that’s plagued his office, his latest misleading television ad touts a completely meaningless “award,” which he won from a practically defunct, right-wing interest group before he was treasurer.
In the new ad, Mandel’s campaign says that Josh was “named Watchdog of the Treasury,” a seemingly impressive accomplishment for the first term absentee treasurer.
Not so fast. The “Watchdog of the Treasury” mantle that Mandel eagerly touts was awarded by the United Conservatives of Ohio, a group of such low standing that it doesn’t even have a website (if a website does exist, ODP couldn’t find it).
Here’s what we know about the “Watchdog of the Treasury” award and UCO:
- According to the ad itself, Mandel earned the award when he was a state representative and before he even took office as treasurer.
- Josh Mandel’s hardly the first Republican to receive the award, as the Columbus Dispatch has previously noted: “Mandel is far from the only one to win the watchdog of the treasury award; it’s given to many public officials by the United Conservatives of Ohio.”
- UCO appears to have no website.
- Since the 2010 elections, UCO has raised no money and spent just $27 – all on bank fees.
- Even conservatives have questioned who’s behind the group.
“Josh Mandel is so desperate to distract voters from his decisions to blow off billion-dollar investment meetings and hire unqualified political cronies in the Treasurer’s office that he’s laughably touting a meaningless award, which he accepted from a practically defunct right-wing interest group before he was even the Treasurer, and hoping no one notices,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Andrew Zucker. “As Josh Mandel well knows, when you don’t show up for work it’s tough finding things to brag about, and unfortunately for Josh, no amount of misleading claims will disguise the fact that he’s not on the side of Ohio’s middle class and he’s just another politician who can’t be trusted.”
BACKGROUND
Since The 2010 Election, United Conservatives Of Ohio Have Received No Contributions And Have Spent A Total Of $27 – All On Routine Bank Fees. According to campaign finance records, United Conservatives of Ohio has spent $27 on bank fees and have not received any contributions. [July 2012 Semiannual report, January 2011 Annual report, July 2011 Semiannual report, 2010 Post-General report]
2010: Mandel Is “Far From The Only” Official To Win Watchdog of the Treasury Award – It’s Given To Many Public Officials By The United Conservatives of Ohio. In a September 2010 ad watch, the Columbus Dispatch noted “Mandel is far from the only one to win the watchdog of the treasury award; it’s given to many public officials by the United Conservatives of Ohio.” [Columbus Dispatch, 9/24/10]
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