>>> COVID CASES HAVE CLIMBED.

POLITICAL RHETORIC INTENSIFIES.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> JOIN US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK.

>>> COVID CASES CLIMB, POLITICAL RHETORIC INTENSIFIES.

♪♪ ♪♪ >>> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS," ANN STAVER, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR "THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH."

DERRICK CLAY, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST.

AND BOB CLEGG, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

AS COVID CASES DROPPED THIS SPRING, SO DID THE POLITICAL INTENSITY SURROUNDING THE PANDEMIC.

WELL, BOTH ARE RISING AGAIN.

IN JULY OHIO'S DAILY NEW CASE RATE HAS TRIPLED, AND ITS HOSPITALIZATION RATE HAS DOUBLED.

THE DEATH RATE HAS REMAINED STEADY AND LOW.

THANKFULLY.

BUT NEW WORRIES ABOUT THE FAST SPREADING DELTA VARIANT AND OHIO'S STILL LAGGING VACCINATION RATE HAVE OFFICIALS STRONGLY RECOMMENDING UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WEAR MASKS, ESPECIALLY THOSE RETURNING TO SCHOOL SOON.

BUT AT LEAST FOR NOW THE STATE WILL NOT ISSUE ANY MASK MANDATES FOR SCHOOLS AS IT DID LAST YEAR.

>> SCHOOLS WILL MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

LET ME MAKE IT VERY CLEAR.

LOCAL SCHOOLS WILL MAKE THE DECISION.

PARENTS WILL MAKE THE DECISION ON WHETHER THEIR INDIVIDUAL CHILD IS GOING TO WEAR THAT MASK IF THE SCHOOL DOESN'T ELECT TO DO IT.

DERRICK CLAY, DO YOU THINK THE STATE SHOULD MANDATE THE SCHOOL KIDS SHOULD WEAR MASKS WHEN THEY GO BACK TO CLASS IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THE LOCAL SCHOOLS THAT MAKE THAT DECISION.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE UNVACCINATED POPULATION HAS PUT US IN THE PREDICAMENT WE'RE IN NOW.

WE -- YOU KNOW, THE VARIANT IS UPON US.

IT'S MUTATING, AND WE HAVE TO BE IN A POSITION WE'RE NOT IN LOCKDOWN AGAIN.

THAT'S THE LAST THING WE WANT TO HAPPEN.

BECAUSE OF -- KIDS CAN'T GO BACK TO SCHOOL, THAT'S GOING TO PUT A TRAIN ON PARENTS.

IT'S GOING TO PUT A STRAIN ON INDUSTRY AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MASSIVE STRIKE CRASH IF WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE WAY WE WERE A YEAR OR SO AGAIN.

>> THINK, IF A LOCAL DISTRICT SAID YOU HAVE TO WEAR MASKS, FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS, KIDS YOUNGER THAN KIDS.

IF YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK, YOU HAVE TO STAY HOME.

WILL THAT CONVINCE MASK SKEPTICS TO SAY, WEAR THE MASK AND GET BACK TO CLASS?

>> MAYBE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- THE PEOPLE -- I MEAN, I'M GOING IT ROUTE NOW, AND I SEE PEOPLE, I STILL SEE PEOPLE WITH MASKS.

BUT I BET YOU THE PEOPLE WITH MASKS WITH VACCINATED PEOPLE.

THEY'RE NOT UNVACCINATED PEOPLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, EACH PARENT HAS TO MAKE A DECISION.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS LEAVING IT UP TO EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S A LOCAL ISSUE DEPENDING ON HOW SERIOUS A SITUATION IS, AND THE LOCAL OFFICIALS SHOULD BE MAKING THAT CALL.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THE BOTTOM LINE ON ALL THIS FOR SCHOOL KIDS IS THE FACT THAT PARENTS GOT TO DO WHAT THEY GOT TO DO, AND WHATEVER PARENTS DECIDE FOR THEIR CHILD IS GOING TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT CHILD.

>> AND WE HAVE REACHED 50 NEW CASES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS AGAIN.

AND THAT WAS THE THRESHOLD AT ONE POINT WHERE THE GOVERNOR TOOK AWAY THE MASK MANDATES AND OTHER THE OTHER MANDATES.

HE SAID THERE IS NO APPETITE FOR MANDATES.

DO YOU THINK HE ISSUES ANY KIND OF MANDATES IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS?

>> WELL, WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW, THE LEGISLATURE HAS A LEGAL WAY TO UNWIND THE MANDATES.

HIS VETO IN THE SPRING, AND NOW IT'S LAW.

THEY CAN COME IN AND REMOVE THE HEALTH ORDERS IF HE PUTS THEM IN PLACE, AND WHAT HE SAID, LOOK, IT'S DIFFERENT NOW.

EVERYONE WHAT WANTS A VACCINE CAN GET ONE.

THERE'S NO WAIT FOR IT.

AND IF PEOPLE CHOSE NOT TO VACCINATE, THEY CHOSE NOT TO MASK, IT'S KIND OF THEIR CHOICE.

BUT I DON'T THINK HE HAS AN APPETITE FOR IT BECAUSE I THINK THE LEGISLATURE WOULD OVERTURN IT.

AND SENATOR ANDREW BRENER UP HERE IN MY AREA HAS INTRODUCED A RULE THAT WOULD BAN SCHOOLS FROM INSTITUTING MASKS.

I THINK LAWMAKERS ARE SORT OF -- THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY OPPOSES THE IDEAS, AND THAT'S WHY THEY -- DEWINE DOESN'T HAVE A SUBPOENA TIGHT FOR IT.

>> THE DELTA VARIANT, IT'S LIKE THE CHICKEN POX.

MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN THE COMMON COLD, AND THOSE WHO GET THE VARIANT SUFFER GREATER SYMPTOMS, MORE SERIOUS ILLNESS.

WE HAVE TO WATCH AND SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT BEFORE -- I DON'T WANT TO PUT A MASK BACK ON.

AND I ALWAYS WORE A MASK.

THE APPETITE, THAT GOVERNOR SAYS, FOR MASKS, IT'S NOT THERE RIGHT NOW.

ARE WE AT THAT THE POINT WHERE WE WANT TO PUT THE MASKS BACK ON?

>> WELL, MIKE, IF WE WERE TO LISTEN TO THE SCIENCE TISS IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAD VERY MISGUIDED INFORMATION THAT CAME FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE CDC IS IN A POSITION NOW WHERE THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE GREATER PUBLIC.

AND RIGHT NOW THAT IS -- THE AT ALTERNATIVE IS FOR UNVACCINATED PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS.

NO ONE WANTED TO WEAR MASKS.

NO ONE WANTED TO BE COOPED UP IN A HOUSE FOR A YEAR EITHER, AND THE ECONOMY TO BE SHUT DOWN.

THIS IS A ONCE IN 100 YEAR PANDEMIC THAT HAS COME UPON US.

AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP WHAT IS UPON US AT BAY.

>> IF THIS PLAYS OUT, AND THERE IS NO STATEWIDE MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS, THE WAY IT TRENDS, THE LEAST VACCINATED AREAS OF OHIO HAVE BEEN -- IF THE EVIDENCE SHOWS, THE MOST OPPOSED TO MASK MANDATES.

THE DISTRICTS, LOW VACCINE RATES.

NOT GOING TO BE WEARING MASKS IN SCHOOL.

TO NOT PUT THOSE KIDS, THE FOLKS WHO LIVE WITH THE KIDS AND TEACHERS IN HARM'S WAY?

>> WELL, IT COULD.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

ONCE AGAIN, PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.

AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD BE COMING IN HERE TRYING TO DICTATE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE LIVING YOUR LIFE.

AND AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, WE CANNOT PUT THE GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE.

YOU KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE AGAINST WEARING MASKS AGAIN.

THE CDC, I DON'T THINK IT HAS MUCH CREDIBILITY ANYMORE.

SO WHATEVER THEY'RE PUTTING OUT, PEOPLE ARE TAKING WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

AND YOU'RE SEEING POLITICALLY SEE SOME INTERESTING THINGS.

OUT IN CALIFORNIA, GAVIN NEWSOM WHO IS UNDER RECALL ISN'T REALLY PUSHING THE MASKS.

HE'S NOT PUSHING THE SHUTDOWNS OR POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN OF CALIFORNIA.

EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN HIT PRETTY HARD BY THE DELTA VARIANT.

I THINK OUR POLITICIANS HAVE GOT THE MESSAGE THEY GOT TO TREAD VERY CAREFULLY HERE AND PEOPLE AREN'T JUST GOING TO BE GOING ALONG LIKE THEY DID A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

IT'S NOW BECOME POLITICAL DANGEROUS TO START MANDATING THINGS.

>> THE COMMENT THAT THE CDC DOESN'T HAVE CREDIBILITY.

SITN'T TRUE, BOB THAT WE ARE JUST LEARNING ABOUT THE DISEASE.

THE DELTA VARIANT, IT CAN'T EXIST WHEN IT STARTED A YEAR AGO.

NOW WE ARE LEARNING IT'S MORE CONTAGIOUS.

IS IT REALLY THE CDC LEARNING ON THE FLY?

>> YEAH, SOME OF IT IS LEARNING ON THE FLY SO THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THINGS QUICKLY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ALSO PEOPLE LOOKING THAT THE CDC SAID DON'T WEAR MASKS IN THE BEGINNING.

AND THEY DIDN'T SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO YOU WEAR MASKS BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE A RUN ON MASKS AND THE PEOPLE WHEN WHO SHOULD HAVE THEM WON'T.

THEY SAID, NO YOU DON'T NEED A MASK.

SO THEREFORE, DON'T MASK UP, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT IS GOING ON WHERE THEY'RE NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, HOW CONTAGIOUS THINGS WERE.

THEY WEREN'T SURE ABOUT -- A LOT OF THAT IS, YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.

BUT THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT IS THEY SWITCHED THINGS UP OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF THAT PEOPLE KEEP SAYING, WELL, I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IT THIS WAY, AND NOW WE AREN'T.

IT MIGHT BE THEY ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT, BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT TRUSTING THEM LIKE THEY WOULD HAVE.

>> ON THAT POINT, HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PUBLIC TO SAY, WE MAID SO MASKS IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE, AND THE SCIENCE SHOWS WEARING A MASK, IF BOTH PARTIES ARE WEARING A MASK, IT REALLY REDUCES SPREAD.

HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PUBLIC, AND CAN THEY RELAY THAT THIS IS CHANGING?

>> DERRICK?

>> WHAT I WOULD SAY FIRST IS THE CDC HAS DEFINITELY REGAINED CREDIBILITY UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, AND YEAH, COMMUNICATION IS VERY KEY.

COMMUNICATION IS VERY KEY.

I MEAN, IF YOU WEAR A MASK, IF THE COLLECTIVE WEAR MASKS, THAT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN ARGUE WITH THAT.

BUT IS IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO WEAR A MASK?

ABSOLUTELY, IT IS.

DO PEOPLE LIKE TO WEAR THE MASK?

NO, NO, THEY DON'T.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC, AND WE HAVE TO DO IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING IT AT BAY.

>> ANOTHER MANDATE, IS VACCINE MANDATES, AND NOBODY'S REALLY ISSUED MANDATES YET SPECIFICALLY.

BUT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BASICALLY GOING TO HAVE MANY MORE REQUIREMENTS AND FEDERAL WORKERS WHO DO NOT GET VACCINATED.

THINK HAVE TO GET TESTED MORE OFTEN, THEY HAVE TO WORE MASKS.

BUT WE'RE SEEING SIGNS THAT VACCINE MANDATES ARE GOING TO DO THAT?

JUST WONDERING?

>> WELL, THERE IS TALK OF PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM DOING IT.

SORT OF THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

THERE IS TALK OF NOT ALLOWING BUSINESSES OR SCHOOLS OR INSTITUTIONS TO MANDATE VACCINES UNTIL THEY ARE FDA APPROVED WHICH IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN THIS FALL.

BUT THE WAY THAT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS HERE IN OHIO, HIGHER EDUCATION, IS HANDLING IT.

SO OSU ASKS ALL THE STUDENTS TO GIVE THEM VACCINE STATUS.

IF YOU ARE VACCINATED.

IF YOU ARE NOT, YOU HAVE TO WEAR MASKS AND TEST EVERY WEEK.

AND OHIO WESLYAN, THEY ARE SAYING NO VACCINE NO ATTENDANCE.

THAT'S ALL.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH HOW PRIVATE BUSINESS IS DOING IT AND PLACES LIKE OSU ARE WORKING AROUND IT AND SAYING, WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR VACCINE STATUS AND YOU ARE FREE TO COME TO CAMPUS.

>> I READ THE FINAL PRINT OF THE VACCINE STATUS.

WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE VACCINE STATUS.

IT SAID, TO GET MORE INFORMATION, CONTRACT, AND TO DRIVE DECISION ON PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES NEEDED FOR THE OHIO STATE COMMUNITY.

THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR A MANDATE AT SOME POINT.

A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.

WHAT ABOUT PRIVATE COMPANIES?

IN BROADWAY, NEW YORK, YOU HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION TO SEE A PLAY OR A MUSICAL.

SHOULD PRIVATE COMPANIES IN OHIO BE ALLOWED TO DO THE SAME?

>> SURE.

IT'S -- ONCE AGAIN, IT'S -- AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT MANDATED BY GOVERNMENT TO DO IT, EACH COMPANY HAS TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THEIR OWN.

I KNOW A LOT OF RESTAURANTS AND BARS ARE NOT THRILLED ABOUT THE IDEA OF GOING BACK TO MASKS BECAUSE THEY JUST KNOW THEIR BUSINESS IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT COULD BE.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON THE INDUSTRY.

I THINK IF IT'S -- A BUSINESS THAT HAS A LOT OF WORKERS THAT ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE OR SOMETHING, THEY MAY MANDATE VACCINATIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IF AN EMPLOYEE DOESN'T LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE THAT OPTION OF EITHER QUITTING OR TAKING A LEAVE OR WHATEVER.

I JUST DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT'S GOING TO COME IN AND MANDATE THAT A COMPANY HAS TO DO THAT.

BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO EITHER INSIST THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES BE VACCINATED OR TO INSIST THEY WEAR MASKS.

>> THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THE POLICE OF MASKS OR VACCINES.

ONE ISSUE THAT IS STILL OUT THERE.

THIS IS STILL AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE VACCINES.

BUT ONCE THE FDA GIVES FULL APPROVAL, IT CHANGES THE GAME A BIT.

DO YOU EXPECT SOME GOVERNMENTS, PROBABLY NOT OHIO, BUT SOME ORGANIZATIONS TO MANDATE VACCINES ONCE THE EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION IS MADE A FULL AUTHORIZATION.

>> I THINK THAT IS REALLY GOING TO DEPEND ON THE LEVEL OF CONTAMINANTS -- THE VIRUS, WHERE THE TRENDS ARE GOING, AND HONESTLY, WHERE PRIVATE BUSINESS COMES OUT ON IT.

ANOTHER SHUTDOWN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COUNTRY WITH SURVIVE ANOTHER SHUTDOWN, TO BE HONEST.

IF WE GET TO THAT POINT.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A COMBINATION OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE TRENDS ARE WITH THE VIRUS.

WHERE PRIVATE BUSINESSES ARE ON, WHETHER THEY THINK THAT PARTICULAR STATE OR COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF MANDATED VACCINATION PROGRAM, AND THE PEOPLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT TOPIC.

MORE QUESTIONS THIS WEEK FOR GOVERNOR DEWINE AND HIS APPOINTMENT OF SAM RANDAZZO AS THE TOP UTILITY REGULATOR IN THE STATE.

FIRST ENERGY, WHICH BENEFITED FROM THE SCANDAL PLAGUED NUCLEAR BAILOUT, SAYS IT BRIBED RANDAZZO WITH A $4 MILLION PAYMENT.

GOVERNOR DEWINE SAYS HE DID NOT LEARN ABOUT THE PAYMENT UNTIL THE DAY THE FBI RAIDED RANDAZZO'S HOME.

BUT "THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH" REPORTS THIS WEEK RANDAZZO INFORMED THE GOVERNOR'S THEN CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE PAYMENT ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE RAID.

DEWINE INSISTS HE THOUGHT RANDAZZO WAS A FREE AGENT WHEN HE APPOINTED HIM CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

>> EVERYBODY KNEW SAM RANDAZZO HAD WORKED FOR FIRST ENERGY, SO IT WASN'T AN ISSUE.

MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT HAD BEEN TERMINATED, THAT RELATIONSHIP HAD BEEN TERMINATED AND WE MOVE ON.

I MEAN, LOOK, MR. RANDAZZO WAS ASKED BY PEOPLE ON MY TEAM -- IS THERE ANYTHING, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONFLICT?

STANDARD QUESTIONS YOU'RE GOING TO ASK TO ANY PERSON, ANYTHING GOING TO EMBARRASS THE GOVERNOR?

ANY CONFLICTS?

AND THE ANSWER HE GAVE WAS NO.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO THE CLOSET QUESTION, WHAT DID THE GOVERNOR KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?

RIGHT NOW, HE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE ALLEGED SHENANIGANS.

>> YEAH, A COUPLE TIME LINE QUESTIONS WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO ANSWER.

THE FIRST IS THAT, FIRST ENERGY SAID THEY GIVE HIM A $4 MILLION PAYMENT IN JANUARY OF 2019, AND THEN HE APPLIED FOR THE SEAT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, AND DEWINE ANNOUNCED HIS APPOINTMENT IN FEBRUARY.

MY FIRST QUESTION, HOW DID YOUR PEOPLE WHO VET HIM MISS $4 MILLION?

WHEN YOU GET VETTED FOR ONE OF THE UTILITY COMMISSIONS, THEY DO A BACKGROUND CHECK.

THEY LOOK THROUGH YOUR STUFF.

THEY ASKED HIM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING EMBARRASSING.

BUT THEY DON'T JUST ASK.

THERE ARE PEOPLE DEDICATED TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOTHING EMBARRASSING.

SO MY QUESTION, HOW DID YOU MISS $4 MILLION IN FEBRUARY?

AND ASSUME HE MISSED IT, AND OCTOBER, HIS CHIEF OF STAFF IS TOLD.

AND KEEP IN MIND, RANDAZZO CALLED HIS CHIEF OF STAFF THE DAY AFTER FIRST ENERGY FIRED THREE EXECUTIVES INCLUDING THE CEO.

THEY FIRE THESE GUYS AND RANDAZZO SAID, I TOOK $4 MILLION BEFORE YOU APPOINTED ME, AND APPARENTLY, SHE SIT ON IT.

WHY?

THE QUESTION, DID SHE KEEP THE GOVERNOR ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS?

AND SHOULD WE HAVE A JOB IN HIS OFFICE?

IF SHE DIDN'T, OBVIOUSLY, SHE HASN'T BEEN TRUTHFUL WITH US.

>> IS IT BELIEVABLE THAT THE CHIEF OF STAFF, YOUR TOP ADVISER, WOULD NOT TELL YOU OF NEWS THAT BIG?

UNTIL -- THE FBI CAME KNOCKING ON RANDAZZO'S DOOR?

>> WHO KNOWS.

MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING, I'M GOING TO GET HIM INVOLVED IN THIS AND MAYBE I SHOULD JUST KEEP IT TO MYSELF.

I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, THEY ASKED HIM WHEN HE WAS UP FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN YOUR BACKGROUND OR IS THERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, HE DIDN'T MENTION THE $4 MILLION.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN CHECK FOR THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO BANK RECORDS AND IF THEY CAN SEE A TRANSFER OF MONEY TO THIS.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COULD HAVE FIGURED THIS ONE OUT PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENT, AND AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, EVERYBODY KNEW HE HAD CONNECTIONS WITH FIRST ENERGY.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE CONNECTIONS WERE AND HOW MUCH HE WAS GETTING FOR THOSE CONNECTIONS.

>> HE HAS NOT BEEN CRIMINALLY CHARGED IN THE INVESTIGATION, NOR HAS ANYONE IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

DERRICK CLAY.

DEWINE SAID HE HIRED RANDAZZO BECAUSE HE'S AN EXPERT.

IT'S A COMPLEX INDUSTRY.

HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE AN EXPERT IN THERE, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW IT WORKS TO BE A HEAD OF THE PUBLIC EWE AT THIS TIMETIES CHAIRMAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE REVOLVING DOOR THAT OFTEN HAPPENS WITH THIS POSITION?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE ENERGY SECTOR IS A VERY COMPLEX SECTOR, AND YOU KNOW, SAM RANDAZZO HAS BEEN KNOWN AS AN EXPERT IN THE ENERGY SPACE.

BUT THE QUESTION GOES BACK TO ANNA'S POINT.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE TIME LINE?

AND WHEN DID -- WHEN DID THE GOVERNOR -- WHEN DID THE GOVERNOR KNOW THAT THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL ISSUE FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW, IF THE CONNECTION IN THE -- FIRST ENERGY PRIOR TO THE ADMINISTRATION, TOTALLY LEGAL TRANSACTION IN MY MIND.

YOU KNOW, BUT IF THERE IS ANY INKLING OF ANYTHING IN THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM.

>> SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE CALLED ON MIKE DEWINE TO FIRE FOLKS WHO ARE CONNECTED TO FIRST ENERGY.

IS THE GOVERNOR INCLINED TO DO THAT.

>> AS OF NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ANSWER IS NO.

THOSE ARE LONG TIME ADVISERS AND HE IS RILE RIGHT NOW.

OBVIOUSLY THAT CAN CHANGE IF WE LEARN MORE OR IF THE FBI RELEASES MORE INFORMATION.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE POINT I DID WANT TO MAKE.

IS THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO ARE PART OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR RANDAZZO HAVE SAID THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE CONTRACTS WITH FIRST ENERGY.

THEY CAME OUT AND SAY, WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS.

IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE BUT THE IT WASN'T KNOWLEDGE TO US.

IF YOU GO BACK AND LISTEN TO SOME OF THE HEARING, HE SAID -- IT'S LIKE, I'M NOT GOING TO KISS AND TELL.

HE'S NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT HIS CLIENTS DURING THE PROCESS.

SO HE WASN'T COMPLETELY FORTHCOMING ABOUT HIS WORK FOR FIRST ENERGY, AND I DON'T THINK LAWMAKERS FEEL THEY KNEW ENOUGH ABOUT HIS TIES WHEN HE GOT APPOINTED TO THE BOARD.

>> GOOD.

FINAL TOPIC.

TUESDAY IS SPECIAL PRIMARY DAY FOR ONE OF CENTRAL OHIO'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

VOTERS IN THE 15th DISTRICT, STEVE STIVERS' OLD DISTRICT, WILL PICK THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT TO FACE EACH OTHER IN NOVEMBER.

11 REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE BALLOT.

THE BIGGER NAMES ARE STATE SENATORS STEPHANIE KUNZE AND BOB PETERSON.

STATE REP JEFF LARE HAS STIVERS' ENDORSEMENT.

BUT FORMER COAL LOBBYIST MIKE CAREY HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE ONLY TWO CANDIDATES.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON RUSSO OF UPPER ARLINGTON FACES RETIRED ARMY OFFICER GREG BETTS.

BOB CLEGG, DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT DIDN'T WORK OUT IN TEXAS.

WILL IT WORK HERE?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT WILL WORK HERE.

ONLY BECAUSE YOU JUST MENTIONED, THERE ARE 11 PEOPLE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THIS PRIMARY.

THE FIELD'S GOING TO BE SO SPLINTERED THAT I THINK THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT WILL PUSH MIKE CAREY OVER THE FINISH LINE.

DOWN IN TEXAS, IT WAS A HEAD-TO-HEAD RACE.

AND I THINK IN THOSE SITUATIONS, IT'S A LITTLE TOUGHER TO PREVAIL ON JUST AN ENDORSEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT.

BUT I THINK WHEN IT'S THIS MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTENDING FOR THE NOMINATION, I THINK THE PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT WILL BE THE DECIDING FACTOR IN WHO WINS.

>> NO DOUBT, AUGUST 3rd OFF YOUR ELECTION.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A FRIENDS AND FAMILY ELECTION.

TURNOUT IS LOW.

IT WILL BE VERY LOW.

DOES THAT GIVE THE ADVANTAGE TO THE TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE.

SENATORS, HAVE A BUILT-IN CONSISTENCY?

>> I HEAR YOU.

THERE IS SO MUCH, A VERY, VERY LOW TURN AROUND.

I WILL BE SURPRISED IF 6,000 PEOPLE VOTE IN THIS THING.

I THINK IT WILL GIVE A BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE SEATS FOR THE AREA.

I DON'T THINK THAT MIKE CAREY IS GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE.

YOU KNOW, THE TRUMP -- THE TRUMP BRAND WORKS IN SOME PLACES.

AND SOME PLACES, IT DOESN'T.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, PEOPLE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THEIR STATE REPS AND THEIR STATE SENATORS.

THP GUY WAS A COAL LOBBYIST.

AND OUTSIDE OF PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY THAT MAY KNOW HIM, A LOT OF PEOPLE R5E8 REALLY DON'T KNOW HIM.

OTHER THAN PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION IS KNOWN TO SPEND MONEY IN THE PAST FEW DAYS ON TELEVISION, DURING THE OLYMPICS AGUESS, HEAVY TV WATCHING.

WE WILL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

PRIMARY DAY IS TUESDAY.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE.

>>> OKAY.

TIME FOR OUR FINAL SHOTS AND PARTING SHOTS.

BOB CLEGG?

>> YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

IT'S ALL BASED ON TURN OUT.

AND WE HAD ONE IN THE 12th THREE YEARS AGO WHERE THERE WAS A NOMINEE THAT ENDED UP WINNING BY A FEW HUNDRED VOTES.

SO WHETHER IT'S DOWN HERE OR UP IN CLEVELAND WHERE THE 11th STRICT IS HAVING A RACE, EVERY VOTE'S GOING TO COUNT AND PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT AND VOTE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> DERRICK CLAY?

>> WELL, LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY FROM U.S. CENSUS DATA HAVING TO BE RELEASED AND MASKS HAVING TO BE DRAWN AND WE DON'T HAVE A PUB PLOIK SESS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE INPUT IN THE PROCESS.

SO I HOPE NO MAJOR VACATIONS ARE PLANNED IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO WITH THE LEGISLATIVES.

>> ANNA STAVER, YOUR POINT SHOTS?

>> I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE EVICTIONS MONDAY TOMORROW.

THE MORATORIUM IS OVER, AND THEY EXPECT A CRUSH ON FILINGS NOW THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY BE EVICTED.

ALL RIGHT.

U.S.

SENATOR ROB PORTMAN IS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT HE WELCOMES, THE GOVERNING SPOTLIGHT, NOT THE "WHAT DID TRUMP SAY NOW" SPOTLIGHT.

PORTMAN SPENT THE LAST MONTH NEGOTIATING WITH DEMOCRATS.

HE HELPED FORGE A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL, LIKELY TO BECOME LAW.

IT'S UNLIKELY PORTMAN WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IF HE WERE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

A PLATFORM OF I CUT A DEAL WITH JOE BIDEN TO SPEND $3 BILLION WOULD NOT HAVE GONE OVER WELL WITH GOP PRIMARY VOTERS.

>> THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

PLEASE CHECK US OUT ON LINE.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

YOU CAN CONNECT TO ALL OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

WOSU.ORG/COTR.

FOR THE CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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