About Josh
Josh Mandel is a Marine intelligence veteran who served two tours in Iraq and currently serves as State Representative from the 17th Ohio House District. He was first elected State Representative in 2006, knocking on 19,679 doors and wearing out three pairs of shoes. In 2008 he was re-elected to a second term, representing a district with a 2:1 Democrat to Republican voter ratio.
Representative Mandel currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee, dealing with issues concerning banks, investment firms, pension funds and other financial matters. Previously, as a member of the House Insurance Committee, he participated in the reconstruction of investment oversight for the multi-billion dollar Bureau of Workers’ Compensation investment fund. Additionally, Representative Mandel has focused on energy security issues, having served as Vice-Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee and a member of the Alternative Energy Committee.
In 2007, Representative Mandel was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal for his national leadership on terror-free investment initiatives. He led a bipartisan effort in Ohio to make Ohio the first state in the nation to divest pension dollars from terrorist-sponsoring nations. Due to his leadership on this and other issues, Representative Mandel was named legislative “Rookie of The Year” by the non-partisan Columbus Monthly Magazine and “Watchdog of the Treasury” by the United Conservatives of Ohio.
Representative Mandel’s previous elected experience includes service as a Lyndhurst City Councilman, where he was elected in 2003 with more votes than any candidate for Council or Mayor. As Councilman, Josh served on the Finance Committee, dealing with issues including long-term fiscal forecasting, municipal investment strategy and bond-rating protections. Additionally, Representative Mandel introduced and led the fight for the first municipal property tax rollback in Lyndhurst history, which currently remains one of the only municipal property tax rollbacks in Ohio history.
Inspired by a strong sense of duty to country, in 2000 Representative Mandel enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, where he graduated first in his class from Marine Corps Boot Camp and first in his class from Marine Corps Intelligence School. His Marine Corps career spanned eight years, including two tours in Anbar Province, Iraq as an Intelligence Specialist. During both tours he was awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal for “superior performance of his duties.”
Representative Mandel holds a Bachelor Degree from The Ohio State University, a Law Degree from Case Western Reserve University, and completed the Investment Decisions & Behavioral Finance program at Harvard University. He and his wife Ilana reside in Lyndhurst, Ohio, close to their families and just minutes from the homes in which they grew up.
You can also learn more about Josh's experience by visiting his LinkedIn page.
