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Aug

15

Josh Mandel brings in the money


From the Columbus Dispatch:
On the Republican side, Mandel, a 29-year-old heading back to Iraq for a second tour, has raised $926,000 over two years. His bulging accounts have turned what might have been a competitive district into a safe hold for Republicans in 2006.

Seven months into his first term, the former star highschool quarterback and undergraduate president at Ohio State University is considered a rising star in GOP ranks.

“He personally is an inspirational individual at a young age,” said James P. Trakas, a former Cuyahoga County GOP chairman who previously held Mandel’s seat. “People see in Josh what the state should have as a leader, so they want him to be successful.”

Mandel expanded on Trakas’ donor list. And he is getting campaign help, Trakas said, from powerful Cleveland developers J. David Heller of NRP Group and Albert Ratner of Forest City Enterprises.

“He also has a statewide following in the Jewish community,” Trakas said.

We know I don’t feel the same way about the Republican hold in these neighborhoods, and this MSM push of that idea that there is such a hold is exactly what I was criticizing when I wrote about it.

But I will contribute this oddity: I have received a very nice amount of attention from Josh and his office, even since he left for training. And I didn’t give a dime to him. I appreciate it, it’s smart, and I try to stick to only constituent issues.

That said, I still hope we can field a good Democratic candidate for the ‘08 race because Josh’s votes in the legislature have not represented what I want. It’s an interesting conundrum: good attention, but not voting in alignment. I want a rep in the legislature who’ll do both.

Who is that going to be?

If you want to see who has contributed to that near million number, visit Ohio Money Tree.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:52 pm August 15th, 2007 in Politics 

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