Ohio Treasurer Josh
Mandel was in Washington on Thursday to attend a $500-a-plate breakfast fundraiser
for his U.S. Senate campaign, continuing his trend of skipping meetings of a
board he chairs that handles billions of Ohio's deposits.
The Board of Deposit,
which determines which banks hold state money, met Thursday in Columbus, two hours after the
start time of the fundraiser. The first-term Republican has not attended any of
the monthly meetings of the group, which also includes Auditor Dave Yost and
Attorney General Mike DeWine.
The Associated Press
first reported Wednesday that Mandel hasn't attended the meetings. Office
spokesman Seth Unger said then that Mandel sends a top-notch chief financial
officer to the meetings in his place.
Sending a designee has
been common practice among his modern-day predecessors, but Mandel is unique
for not attending a single meeting.
Unger and campaign
spokesman Joe Aquilino did not return voice and e-mail messages left Thursday
seeking further information. Messages seeking comment from Yost's spokeswoman
were not immediately returned after business hours, and DeWine's office said he
declined to comment on the matter.
The fundraiser for
Mandel's bid to unseat Ohio's Democratic U.S. Sen.
Sherrod Brown was given by the state's Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman.
Individuals attending
the event at Charlie Palmer Steak were asked to donate $500, with political
action committees donating $1,000. Hosts of the event were asked to donate
$1,000, while hosting PACs were asked for $2,000.
(Copyright 2012 by The
Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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