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A Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Ohio has declined an invitation to address the Akron Press Club. Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel is too busy to speak at the Press Club, according to his political director.

Mandel is running against incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown in the 2012 November election.

The Press Club first extended an invitation to Mandel in May 2011. Representatives from the Press Club worked through the summer to seek an acceptable date for the Mandel campaign and learned in December that he would not be available for any date.

The Press Club extended the same invitation to Brown, who has accepted and will appear Jan. 6 (reservation information is available at www.akronpressclub.org).

In 2009, the Akron Press Club invited all declared candidates for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by George Voinovich to speak. All four candidates – two Democrats and two Republicans, including eventual winner and current U.S. Sen. Rob Portman – accepted the invitations. All spoke at the Martin Center on the University of Akron campus during the fall of 2009. The luncheon speeches were co-sponsored with the University of Akron’s Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, which also is co-sponsoring the appearances in 2012.

In 2010, the state chairs of both political parties – Democrat Chris Redfern and Republican Kevin DeWine – spoke to Press Club audiences.

“The Press Club is proud to provide a non-partisan forum for political leaders to reach out to the Akron community,” said Press Club President Bruce Winges. “We are disappointed that Josh Mandel is unable to participate in this forum.”

The Akron Press Club was founded in 1971 to promote a free press and serve local journalists and public relations professionals. The group has a rich heritage of offering newsmakers a forum to discuss issues of the day at Press Club luncheons and speaking events that are open to the public. The club also funds scholarships for journalists and public relations students and sponsors annual fundraising and community outreach events. Visit www.akronpressclub.org for membership information.