COLUMBUS -- Did Republican Senate candidate and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel miss 13 consecutive meetings of a board he's empowered to chair?
That's the claim of an ad being run by U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown's campaign.
The ad claims Mandel missed his 13th consecutive meeting of the Board of Deposit. The board decides which banks the State of Ohio will keep its money in.
The ad cites particularly January, 2012 meeting, claiming Mandel was in Washington raising money for his Senate campaign.
A check of minutes confirms Mandel actually missed 14 meetings in a row.
He did show up at the March 2012 meeting.
Mandel's spokesman Travis Considine does not contest facts stated in the ad.
The ad does mention a series of other trips, not all of which conflicted with board meeting dates.
"Sherrod Brown's negative ads prove he has nothing positive to share with voters about his failed record in Washington," Considine said.
A Treasurer's spokesman has said Mandel sent capable stand-ins who performed and voted as Mandel would have.
One controversy concerns the use of a Steubenville newscaster in the ad. He is inserted reading a news story's line that Mandel's absence makes him unlike any other Ohio Treasurer.
Station WTOV was not asked for approval of its footage.
Some experts say the use of newscast footage in political spots could confuse viewers, blurring the line between reporting and advocating for a candidate.
Josh Mandel did, in fact, miss the meetings the ad asserts he did.
The ad is rated "Mostly True."
WKYC-TV