Actor John Ratzenberger Visits Lyndhurst, Gives 'Cheers' to Josh Mandel's State Treasurer Run

By Jeff Piorkowski, Sun Messenger, Aug 13, 2009, Original Article

On the 1980s TV series "Cheers," John Ratzenberger's character Cliff Clavin was, at least in his own mind, a know-it-all.

State Rep. Josh Mandel, R-17, of Lyndhurst is hoping the actor who played Clavin is correct when he says Mandel is the best candidate to be Ohio's next treasurer.

Ratzenberger, whom Mandel met through a mutual friend several months ago while in California, made good on a promise to come to Ohio and stump for Mandel. Ratzenberger, with Mandel, visited Brio in Legacy Village July 30 before the two went on to a fund-raiser for the candidate in Chagrin Falls.

"He's a no nonsense straight shooter," Mandel said of Ratzenberger. "I feel strongly, as does John, about revitalizing manufacturing in our state and our country. We are a country that grew strong based on invention and making things.

"At the event, I also spoke about my strong feelings about the need for keeping young people in Ohio," Mandel said.

Ratzenberger is a Connecticut native who became famous on "Cheers," and now hosts "Made in America" on the Travel Channel. The show mirrors Ratzenberger's philosophy of keeping America strong through American manufacturing.

He also has worked with the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs program, which is dedicated to teaching young people how to make things with their hands.

In a release, Ratzenberger said, "Everything you do relies on someone's ability to put a nut and bolt together. If there's no plumber to have hot water coming out of the tap, there's no brain surgery that's going to happen.

"But we're literally running out of people who know how to build things and fix things. Josh understands this."

Mandel, a former Lyndhurst councilman, is seeking e lection in November against incumbent Democrat Kevin L. Boyce.