ONTARIO — “America will be saved in houses of worship, not political offices,” says one U.S. Senate nominee. Running an unorthodox campaign where speaking engagements are held primarily at churches, candidate Josh Mandel is connecting with social conservatives, preferring the endorsement of pastors over politicians.
In an open letter sent by over one hundred diverse clergy from thirty-six counties, Richland County had the largest number of clergy cosigners endorsing Josh Mandel. A glimpse of this support could be seen Tuesday night in the Buckeye Bible Belt.
“Josh Mandel best embodies our set of Judeo-Christian family values,” Rabbi William Hallbrook told the one hundred-thirty in attendance at Tuesday’s gathering. “We are looking for a hope and a future for our families. As the Prophet Jeremiah said, ‘Pray for the peace and prosperity of your city, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. This candidate may be one of the answers to our prayers.”
Several dignitaries attending the Faith & Freedom Forum included Shelby City Councilman Nate Martin, Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, and his wife Melanie Miller who is running for State Representative. Twelve of the endorsing clergymen also attended.
One of those clergyman, Pastor J.C. Church, exhorted the crowd to be involved and engaged in the nation’s future. “If you are not networking you are not working. It’s not about being Republican, you need the right conservative candidate that delivers actions with his words.”
Before arriving at the Faith & Freedom Forum, Candidate Josh Mandel took a tour of the Richland Pregnancy Center located down the street from the synagogue. Mandel said he was impressed with the medical and support services the pregnancy center provides.
“If we are not going to stand up to protect the life of the unborn, nothing else matters,” Mandel says. “I am devoutly Pro-Life. I am not only a leader in the Pro-Life movement, I am an activist in the Pro-Life movement. And I think the incredible services they provide at Richland Pregnancy Services and at other Pro-Life pregnancy centers throughout Ohio are amazing. The women who work there and the communities that support these pregnancy centers are saving children everyday.”
Josh Mandel went on to describe to the crowd his record of transparency as Ohio State Treasurer. Going against the wishes of the political establishment in Columbus, in 2015 Mandel implemented “Operation Shawshank” which constructed an online checkbook of all state expenditures. The bold move gave Ohio national accolades, with the state’s ranking in government transparency soaring from near last to tops in the nation. Putting expenditures of taxpayer dollars online also helped reduce wasteful spending.
“If we are not going to stand up to protect the life of the unborn, nothing else matters. I am devoutly Pro-Life. I am not only a leader in the Pro-Life movement, I am an activist in the Pro-Life movement.”
Josh Mandel, candidate for the U.S. Senate
Mandel said he believes dispersing different federal agencies throughout the country will help dissolve the totalitarian rule of Washington D.C. elites. He suggested moving the Department of Agriculture to Iowa, the Department of Energy to Texas, and the Department of Transportation to Ohio.
The biggest applause of the night come when Mandel discussed election integrity. “Like more than half of this nation, I believe the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election was stolen! We need to eliminate early voting and vote-by-mail and go back to one day of voting-election day. As Senator of Ohio, I will support replacing the January 6th Commission with a November 3rd Commission to investigation election fraud.”
Mike Gibbons, Mandel’s chief rival in the U.S. Senate race, has criticized the former State Treasurer’s position on abortion. Although Gibbons says he has been a Pro-Life advocate his entire life, in 2018 Gibbons referred to Roe v. Wade as the “law of the land.” Financially, in 2020 Gibbons contributed to the openly pro-abortion candidate State Rep. Gayle Manning.
Endorsing area clergy pray over Josh Mandel. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pastor J.C. Church speaks at Faith & Freedom Forum in Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Prior to Faith & Freedom Forum, Josh Mandel toured Richland Pregnancy Services. Mandel is pictured with Pastor J.C. Church, and RPS Director Amanda Clark, and Melanie Miller. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Clark) 
Faith & Freedom Forum held at Ontario synagogue. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Josh Mandel pictured with Pastors Chad Hayes & Randy Raynes. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
U. S. Senate Candidate Josh Mandel speaks at Faith & Freedom Forum. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Prior to Faith & Freedom Forum, Josh Mandel toured Richland Pregnancy Services. (Photo courtesy of Greg Kahl, WMFD) 
Endorsing area clergy pray over Josh Mandel. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
U.S. Senate Candidate Josh Mandel pictured with local family. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Rabbi William Hallbrook (pictured on R) hosted Faith & Freedom Forum at his synagogue. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Pastor J.C. Church speaks at Faith & Freedom Forum in Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Prior to Faith & Freedom Forum, Josh Mandel toured Richland Pregnancy Services. (Photo courtesy of Greg Kahl, WMFD) 
Josh Mandel speaks with area clergymen pictured L to R: James Marshall, Chad Hayes, & Randy Raynes. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
U.S. Senate Candidate Josh Mandel pictured with local family. (Photo courtesy of Josh Mandel/Twitter) U. S. Senate Candidate Josh Mandel speaks at Faith & Freedom Forum. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Prior to Faith & Freedom Forum, Josh Mandel toured Richland Pregnancy Services. (Photo courtesy of Greg Kahl, WMFD) 
U.S. Senate Candidate Josh Mandel pictured with two youngsters. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
U. S. Senate Candidate Josh Mandel speaks at Faith & Freedom Forum. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Prior to Faith & Freedom Forum, Josh Mandel toured Richland Pregnancy Services. (Photo courtesy of Greg Kahl, WMFD)
On the other hand, Mandel has been on record as one of the first state officials to support the Ohio Heartbeat Bill in 2011. The bill outlawed abortion after six weeks.
“Josh’s combination of youthfulness and experience gives Ohioans the best of both worlds when voting on May 3rd. As a Marine veteran and as the only candidate in the race who has won a statewide election, Josh Mandel has demonstrated he is battle-tested and he has the scars to prove it.” says Pastor J.C. Church.
Related articles:
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Proverbs Chapter Eleven, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.”
