Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel hopes to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in this year's election, but state Democrats think Mandel has an odd way of carrying out his current job responsibilities. They point out that he has repeatedly skipped meetings of a board that oversees billions in Ohio government bank deposits.
After Mandel did not attend his 14th straight Board of Deposit meeting Wednesday night, Ohio Democrats were especially harsh in criticizing Mandel's work ethic.
“Josh Mandel's complete and total neglect of his job as Treasurer is a constant reminder of how unfit he is for public office and his obsession with a promotion is evidence of just how little he cares about his obligation to Ohio's taxpayers,” said Justin Barasky, Ohio Democratic Party press secretary and Brown's spokesman, in a statement. “There's not a Treasurer in America more willfully neglecting his responsibilities as a public servant and it's far past time for Josh Mandel to check his out of control political ambition at the door and start putting Ohioans first."
Mandel's campaign referred The Huffington Post to the state treasurer's office, which did not comment on the issue.
Ohio's Democrats are also mocking Mandel with an Internet video:
UPDATE: 6:15 p.m. --
Mandel spokesman Seth Unger later offered a recitation of Mandel's achievements as treasurer before offering that Mandel designates someone to fill his role at board meetings.
"The Treasurer directs and empowers his staff of financial professionals who represent him on the Board of Deposit, and has full confidence in his Chief Financial Officer who serves as his designee,” Unger said in a statement.