Mandel discloses divorce records
‘Differences have arisen’, former treasurer says
COLUMBUS – Former Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel's sealed divorce records reveal little about why he separated from his wife beyond “differences have arisen.”
Mandel and his former wife, Ilana Shafran Mandel, filed for divorce in April 2020 in Ashland County even though the couple lives in Cleveland's Cuyahoga County. Their reason was “an effort to separate the public and personal lives of the petitioners and to protect the privacy, safety and security of their minor children,” according to records disclosed by his Senate cam
paign.
Judge Ronald Forsthoefel, a Republican, sealed records about the couple’s dissolution, which included details about their income, property and shared parenting plan.
On Feb. 12, The Cincinnati Enquirer filed a complaint asking the judge to unseal the couple’s dissolution records, portions of which could be redacted.
Ohio Rules of Superintendence, which govern Ohio courts, requires a judge to make records public unless there is clear and convincing evidence that public access is outweighed by other interests, such as threats to a person’s safety. Forsthoefel sealed the case without holding a hearing or receiving any evidence. As Mandel embarks upon a heated Republican primary for U.S. Senate, his campaign shared those court filings with reporters.
In those filings, Mandel listed his employer as Boxbees Technologies Inc., a business incorporated in Delaware with no web presence. Mandel and others planned to tackle the problem of surplus cardboard boxes, according to the campaign, but COVID-19 hit and they never pursued the project.
Starting in April 2019, Mandel served as the chief financial officer for Compound Asset Management, a crowdfunding platform for real estate investment. The company was later purchased in June 2020.
Mandel reported an annual income of $70,149 in 2019 and an adjusted gross income of $397,000 including investments. His assets included $605,000 in investment accounts and $205,000 from his pension for state employees.
He pays about $2,600 in child support each month and no spousal support. Many details about the Mandels’ income were previously disclosed because of his past political races.
The parenting plan for their three children, who range in age from 4 years old to 7 years old, indicates “each party is a fit, caring and appropriate parent with the ability to provide guidance, concern and a proper home life for the minor children.” The children spend time with both parents.
Both parents agreed to take a course for divorcing parents, a court requirement to “reaffirm the continuing importance of each parent in the life of the child and how to avoid issues which may negatively affect your child.” They selected an online class.
“I look forward to doing whatever I can to help elect Josh to the U.S. Senate,”
Ilana Mandel said in a statement provided to the campaign. “He and I remain close friends and committed parents to our three children. A few years ago Josh sacrificed a career opportunity when our family needed him to be home with us full time. I’m happy that he once again has a chance to serve and I fully support him.”
The court filings made no reference to Mandel’s political aspirations except to say he was a former state treasurer and state representative. Mandel dropped out of the U.S. Senate race against Brown in early 2018, citing his wife’s health. Ilana Shafran Mandel comes from a prominent Cleveland family. She is the daughter of Joseph Shafran and he is the first cousin of former Forest City CEO Al Ratner. She helped bankroll Mandel’s early campaigns, which ranged from Lyndhurst City Council to U.S. Senate.