2012 Ohio Senate Debates: on Government Reform

Josh Mandel: No government bailout that I would ever support

But Mandel seemed to indicate he opposed all bailouts. "I'm not a bailout senator," he said. "There's no government bailout that I can think of that I would ever support."

Josh Mandel: Does not accept gifts in public office

This raises a question: Why did Mandel recently declare in a public document that he got gifts from 31 people in 2011? That number of gift-givers, and their names, showed up in the state financial disclosure statement that Mandel filed this week. This disclosure led incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown's campaign to declare that Mandel lied when he told reporters that he doesn't take gifts.

Mandel's campaign spokesman says the gifts were primarily meals at "family gatherings, weddings, meetings and charity events."

Josh Mandel: Public officials should disclose more than is required

If there were gifts of significantly high value or items that went beyond food or drink, the disclosure forms do not say, as the Ohio Ethics Commission only requires state officeholders to disclose the source of gifts valued at more than $75 but does not require specificity as to the gifts themselves.

The US Senate require only gifts worth more than $335 to be reported. Brown's most recent form said he had none. Mandel "goes above and beyond what is required on his disclosure forms," the spokesperson said. "More elected officials should do that."