>>> JOHN KERRY MENDEL BOWS OUT IN THE RACE FOR THE U.S.

SENATE.

>> JOINING US ON COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR OHIO PUBLIC RADIO.

JULIE, STATEHOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND DEREK CLAY, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST.

THE STATEMENT READS, "WE RECENTLY LEARNED MY WIFE HAS A HEALTH ISSUE THAT WILL REQUIRE MY TIME AND ATTENTION AND PRESENCE.

IN OTHER WORDS, I NEED TO BE THERE.

UNDERSTANDING AND DEALING WITH THESE HEALTH ISSUE IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN ANY POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

AFTER RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR FAMILY AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR TO US THAT IT'S NO LONGER POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE AWAY FROM HOME AND ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL FOR THE NEEDED TIME TO RUN FOR U.S.

SENATE.

THAT LEAVES MIKE GIBBONS AS THE ONLY ANNOUNCED REPUBLICAN TO RUN AGAINST SHERIFF BROWN.

WE'LL GET TO HOW THIS SHAKES UP THE RACE IN A MOMENT.

TERRY CASEY, THIS WAS A SURPRISE?

ANY WARNING THIS WAS HAPPENING?

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?

>> WELL, IT IS A BIG, BIG SURPRISE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE THREE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN.

I THINK IN THE RANGE OF ROUGHLY 1 TO 6 YEARS OLD.

I'M TAKING IT AS A FAMILY PROBLEM.

THERE IS SPECULATION THAT MAYBE HE WAS AFRAID OF LOSING.

I'M NOT SURE THAT IS EXACTLY CORRECT.

ULTIMATELY, WE'LL FIND OUT, BUT IT DEFINITELY SHAKES THINGS UP, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS DOES SOMEBODY, LIKE A MARY TAYLOR OR JIM REYNASE RUN FOR THE SENATE RACE INSTEAD BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT SHARON BROWN HAS SOME GOOD COMPETITION AND HIS FEET BE HELD TO THE FIRE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN IN D.C.

SO LONG AS A SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN.

>> JULIE, IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THIS IS A SUDDENLY OCCURRING HEALTH ISSUE BECAUSE JOSH MANDEL IS A VERY AMBITIOUS GUY.

>> YES.

>> I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN A LOT TO GET HIM TO PULL OUT OF THE RACINE IF HE DID FACE LONG ODDS.

>> I THINK SO.

HE ACTUALLY HAS GONE INTO THIS DECISION AS THE NUMBER ONE FUNDRAISER IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT INCLUDES SITTING SENATORS AND EVERYTHING.

HE IS A VERY GOOD FUNDRAISER.

HE WAS MOUNTING A CAMPAIGN AGAINST BROWN THAT WAS HIS SECOND TIME DOING THAT, AND THINKING HE HAD POSITIONED HIMSELF BETTER.

NOBODY KNEW THE NAME OF MIKE GIBBONS, SO I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT -- ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I DON'T REALLY THINK THERE'S ANYTHING TO IT BUT WHAT IT SAYS ON ITS FACE.

>> JULIE IS RIGHT.

HE IS NOT ONLY A BIG FUNDRAISER, BUT HE WORKS REALLY HARD TO MAKE A LOT OF CONTACTS.

HE IS A VERY AMBITIOUS GUY WHO THE RANKS IN OHIO, AND I THINK WITH ALL THESE -- THE SHUFFLING AROUND WE'VE SEEN, WE'VE SEEN BASICALLY TWO CANDIDATES FOR EVERY SINGLE STATE-WIDE RACE.

I THINK JOSH MANDEL WAS THE ONE PERSON YOU THOUGHT THERE'S NO WAY HE IS DROPPING OUT OF THIS RACE.

HE IS THE ONE CONSTANT THING THAT YOU COULD COUNT ON IN THIS RACE.

FOR HIM TO DROP OUT IS VERY SURPRISING.

>> ONE OF THE REAL POSITIVES THAT HE LOOKED AT WAS THIS IS GOING TO BE A GUBERNATORIAL TURNOUT YEAR, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN PRESIDENTIAL.

WHEN HE CAME CLOSE, NOT THAT CLOSE, THE LAST TIME IT WAS PRESIDENTIAL, AND HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST THE OBAMA TURNOUT MACHINE.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT IN 2018.

>> DEREK, DOES THIS MEAN IT'S MIKE GIBBONS AND SHARON BROWN, OR DO YOU EXPECT SHARON BROWN TO FACE A BIGGER NAME GOP CANDIDATE COME NOVEMBER?

>> I PRACTICE I THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY WITH JOSH AND HIS FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, MIKE GIBBONS, NOBODY KNEW HIS NAME BEFORE JOSH MANDEL ANNOUNCED HE WAS STEPPING OUT OF THE RACE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HIS NAME NOW.

I THINK THIS PAVES THE WAY FOR SENATOR BROWN TO BE RE-ELECTED.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO JUMP INTO THE RACE.

I THINK THAT HE IS CONCENTRATING ON 2020 FOR ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE STATEWIDE RACES, MARY TAYLOR, I DON'T THINK THAT SHE COULD BEAT SHARON BROWN.

IF YOU LOOK AT A DAVE YOST, I DON'T THINK THAT HE CAN BEAT A SHERIFF BROWN.

I THINK THAT THE SENATOR IS IN A VERY GOOD POSITION RIGHT NOW TO NOT ONLY GET RE-ELECTED, BUT TO HELP SOME OF THE OTHER STATEWIDES THAT ARE RUNNING FOR ELECTION IN 2018.

>> I WILL SAY MIKE GIBBONS HAS JOHN KASIC'S FORMER SPOKESPERSON WITH HIM.

HE HAS DONALD TRUMP'S DIGITAL TEAM WITH HIM.

HE HAS GOT THE ENDORSEMENT OF, I THINK, THE FRANKLIN COUNTY GOP.

HE HAS HAD SOME MOMENTUM AND SOME HEAVY-WEIGHTS BEHIND HIM.

>> WAS THAT MORE OF AN ANTI- JOSH MANDEL, AND NOW THEY MIGHT CHANGE THEIR ENDORSEMENT.

>> PEOPLE DROPPED THE BALL IN FRANKLIN COUNTY BECAUSE GIBBONS MADE CALLS PERSONALLY NOT ONCE BUT TWICE TO EVERY MEMBER IN THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE HERE, AND JOSH UNKNOWN SOMETHING WAS COMING AND YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE A SURPRISE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

>> AS MUCH AS THAT WAS A NEGATIVE NOD AT JOSH, THINGS LIKE THE CLEVELAND POLICE UNION ENDORSING JOSH ARE INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY APPEAR TO HAVE THE MIND OF, WELL, BEFORE GIBBONS GOT IN THE RACE, SO WHEN I INTERVIEWED THEM ABOUT ENDORSING JOSH, AND I SAID IS THIS AN ENDORSEMENT FOR THE GENERAL OR AN ENDORSEMENT AGAINST GIBBONS?

THEY SAID WHO IS GIBBONS?

NEVER HAD HEARD OF HIM AND WERE ENDORSING MANDEL.

IN A WAY THE REPUBLICANS WILL LINE UP BEHIND WHO THEY THINK IS THE BEST -- ALREADY IN THE STATE, AND VERY INTERESTED IN WINNING THAT SEAT AS TERRY SAYS.

>> WE HAVE THE TWO OTHER CANDIDATES.

HE IS NOT GOING TO JUMP IN.

YOU HAVE JIM -- MARY TAYLOR.

THE TWO OTHER ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

JOHN HOUSTON HAS TO BE THINKING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I'LL RUN FOR SENATE AND NOT FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, OR DOES HE STAY WITH DEWINE.

IT REALLY SHAKES THINGS UP.

>> FOR JOHN HOUSTON, HIS ISSUE INTEREST IS STATE ISSUES.

NOT THE FEDERAL ISSUES.

IT'S ONE THING THAT THE STATEHOUSE HAS TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGET AND ALL OF THAT.

THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT GAME.

HE MIGHT THINK ABOUT IT.

HE MIGHT GIVE SOME PRESSURE.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO STAY BECAUSE GOVERNOR IS WHAT HE ULTIMATELY WANTS TO BE, AND HE SEES A PATH FORWARD BEING A RUNNING MATE WITH MIKE DEWINE.

>> SO IS -- >> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE CONSIDERS IT BECAUSE BASICALLY HE WANTED TO GET OUT OF CONGRESS BECAUSE HE IS A BUSINESS GUY THAT GOT ELECTED TO CONGRESS AND REALIZED WHAT A SCREWBALL BUSINESS IT IS AND HOW WE RUN OUR NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.

>> ALL THE RHETORIC -- >> HE MIGHT GET SOME PRESSURE FOR TRUMP, THOUGH, TO JUMP IN THAT SENATE RACE AND OFFSET THE VICTORY IN ALABAMA.

>> THE RHETORIC BEHIND RENASE HAS BEEN I WANT TO BE THE EXECUTIVE OF OHIO, SO IT KIND OF GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN IF HE RAN FOR SENATE.

>> IF HE SHOULD DO THAT OPENING UP THE POSSIBILITY THAT MARY TAYLOR COULD RUN FOR HIS SEAT, ALTHOUGH SHE'S ALREADY SAID SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT MARY TAYLOR IS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE FOR THE LONG HAUL, ALTHOUGH SHE HASN'T ANNOUNCED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR YET, AND THE TIME IS GETTING SHORT FOR DOING THAT.

>> SO THAT GETS -- SHARON BROWN WILL BE TOUGH TO BEAT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY A DEMOCRATIC WAVE YEAR.

A LOT OF THE ANTI-DONALD TRUMP SENTIMENT OUT THERE COULD BE THE BIG NAME REPUBLICANS SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, I SHOULD JUMP IN FOR THE TEAM.

I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT AND GET MY BUTT BEAT.

>> WELL, SHARON HAS A LOT OF STRENGTHS, BUT HE HAS A LOT OF WEAKNESSES BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN AROUND SO LONG.

>> HE HAS SOME BAGGAGE AND SOME PLUSES.

WE'LL SEE.

THERE IS A MONTH TO FILE A DEADLINE THERE.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT -- I DON'T THINK THAT LONGEVITY IN CONGRESS EQUATES TO YOU BEING VULNERABLE FOR OFFICE.

HE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR POLITICIANS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THIS STATE HAS EVER SEEN.

I THINK THAT HE IS IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION TO BE A RE-ELECTED TO THE U.S.

SENATE, AND I THINK THAT, AGAIN, HE IS GOING TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE HE IS GOING TO BE HELPING THE OTHER STATE BOOID CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> IF WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME, IF YOU REALLY THINK BILLION SHARON BROWN HAVING A REALLY BIG WIN THIS YEAR IN THE SENATE RACE, THAT COULD SET HIM UP FOR ANY POSSIBLE RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN THE FUTURE TOO.

>> CONGRESSMAN FROM CENTRAL OHIO SAID HE WILL NOT RUN FOR SENATE.

THERE IS ONE SPECULATION OFF THE BOARD ALREADY.

>> ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, IT ACCIDENT LOO LIKE OHIO VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

AS YOU KNOW, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE DREW A CREATIVE CONGRESS NATURAL MAP IN 2012 RESULTING IN GERRYMANDERED DISTRICTS THAT MOSTLY FAVOR REPUBLICANS.

SUPPORTERS OF REDISTRICTING REFORM ARE COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO PUT AN ISSUE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

VOTERS OVERWHELM LEG APPROVED A PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE STATE DISTRICTS A FEW YEARS AGO.

THAT HAS LAWMAKERS NERVOUS SO THEY ARE RUSHING TO PREEMPT THE NOVEMBER ISSUE BY TRYING TO GET A DIFFERENT PLAN ON THE MAY BALLOT.

ANDY, IS THAT THE MOTIVATION HERE?

THEY WANT -- THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO CONTROL THE PROCESS OF DRAWING THESE DISTRICTS.

THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE NOVEMBER ISSUE.

>> THEY MAKE NO SECRET OF THE FACT THAT LEGISLATORS WANT TO CREATE THE LAWS THAT ARE IN OHIO.

THEY DON'T WANT A CITIZEN BALLOT INITIATIVE TO COME IN TO CHANGE THE GAME.

YEAH, THEY HAVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WORKING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF BIPARTISAN DEAL.

REMEMBER, WE ALREADY HAD A REFORM TO THE WAY STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING JUST USE THAT SAME PROCESS FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THERE IS SOMETHING OUT THERE.

THERE'S A PLAN OUT THERE ALREADY THAT THEY COULD DRAW UPON.

I THINK THAT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO WE ARE ABOUT GOING SO TEE MOVEMENT ON THIS.

>> THE WORRY IS THAT THIS WOULD BE A COSMETIC FIX.

IT WON'T BE REAL REFORM.

>> THEY CAN ONLY GO ON CONTROLLING EVERY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT FOR SO LONG.

IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO COMPROMISE WITH DEMOCRATS NOW AS OPPOSED TO LATER.

>> IN 2010 THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE COMPROMISE AND LOST EVERYTHING IN 2010.

>> THERE ARE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT LIKE THE WAY THINGS ARE, INCLUDING JOYCE BEATTY, AND THE LIST OF SOME COMPUTER DRAWN THING.

THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT'S MISLEADING BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS IS IF YOU ONLY HAVE 16 OR ULTIMATELY 15 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, THEY CAN'T ALL BE COMPACT AND COMPETITIVE AND ALL THESE OTHER KIND OF THINGS.

PARTICULARLY WHEN A LOT OF THE FEDERAL JUDGES HAVE SAID EVERY DISTRICT MUST BE EXACT DOWN TO THE PERSON.

THERE'S SOME DEBATE WHETHER THAT WILL BE THE ULTIMATE STANDARD, AND WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT.

A CASE ON THE WISCONSIN WHAT THEY DO AND DON'T DO.

IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE TO DRAW EASY COMPACT DISTRICTS.

THE FIRST TWO OR THREE OR FOUR YOU DRAW COULD ALL LOOK VERY PRETTY AND NICE, AND PEOPLE SAY, SAYS BOY, THAT'S GREAT.

THEN YOU GOT ALL THESE BITS AND PIECES AROUND OHIO, AND WHERE DO YOU STICK THEM?

IT'S HARD TO MAKE EVERY DISTRICT PERFECT.

>> THAT'S EASY TO DO IF YOU ARE IN SOME OF THE BIGGER COUNTIES.

WHEN YOU GET INTO SOME OF THE SMALLER COUNTIES, YOU CAN'T -- IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO TRY TO NOT BREAK UP THE COUNTY LINES IN ORDER TO GET A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ALL INTO ONE COMPACT -- >> AND ESPECIALLY IF IT'S GOT TO BE EXACTLY TO THE PERSON.

>> RIGHT.

>> IN THE NUMBERS, AND THEN WITH COMPUTERS YOU GOT TO GRAB LITTLE BITS AND PIECES OF FIVE PEOPLE HERE AND 26 PEOPLE THERE.

>> YOU STILL HAVE A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT GOES FROM JIM JORDAN TO TEA PARTY FAVORITE, FROM SOUTHWEST OHIO ALL THE WAY UP TO LORRAINE COUNTY IN OVERLAND.

THAT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD TO HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

>> THE ONLY ONE IN THEIR STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY'VE GOT DEMOCRATS.

I MEAN, IT HAPPENS, AND COMPUTERS HAVE KIND OF MADE IT WORSE.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE BUYER BEWARE.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN HAVE A PERFECT DISTRICT OF 15 OR 16 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT ALL LOOK PERFECTLY PERFECT AND THAT ARE EXACTLY COMPETITIVE.

>> YOU WILL NOTICE THAT AROUND THE CITIES, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING LOGICAL FOR US IN COLUMBUS, FOR EXAMPLE.

YOU KNOW, PULL IN SOME WORTHINGTON AND MAYBE WESTERVILLE AND OTHER VOTERS.

A LOT OF TIMES THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THOSE ARE REPUBLICAN AREAS AS OPPOSED TO THE DEMOCRATIC.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK LEGISLATORS ARE IN A TOUGH SPOT ON THIS ONE.

>> THERE IS -- JOYCE BEATTY SAYS THE CURRENT MAPS ALLOW FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE -- YOU HAVE TO HAVE DIVERSITY WITHIN YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

YOU KNOW, SAYS IF YOU LOOK AT -- IF YOU LOOK AT CONGRESSWOMAN BEATTY'S DISTRICT, A LOT OF HER DISTRICT IS IN THE CENTRAL PARTS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, THEN THEY GO A LITTLE UP INTO THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME DIVERSITY, AND IT IS A FINE LINE OF HOW YOU DRAW THOSE DISTRICTS VERSUS WHETHER IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE INTENTIONALLY GERRYMANDERING THE DISTRICTS.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE GUARDRAIL TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SPLITTING THINGS EVENLY, BUT CREATING A PROCESS WHERE THE MINORITY GETS A VOTE, WHERE THE MINORITY PARTY GETSDS A VOTE, THAT'S THE BIG SWING THERE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT.

>> SOME OF THE DISTRICTS LIKE UP IN CLEVELAND, WHERE HER DISTRICT SHRUNK UP SO MUCH IN POPULATION, THEY HAD TO GO DOWN INTO THE CENTRAL CITY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AREAS OF AKRON IN ORDER TO GET ENOUGH NUMBERS TO PUMP HER NUMBERS UP SO SHE WOULD BE SAFER, WHICH IS WHAT SHE WANTED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WITH THE NEW YEAR COMES THE NEXT COURT FIGHT OVER OHIO VOTING.

ON WEDNESDAY THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING AND OPPOSING OHIO'S SYSTEM OF PURGING INACTIVE VOTERS FROM THE ROLES.

UNDER OHIO'S RULES, YOU CAN BE PURGE THE FROM THE ROLLS IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED IN SIX YEARS.

EVEN IF THAT VOTER REMAINS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND HAS NOT MOVED.

SUPPORTERS SAY PURGING THE ROLES PREVENT FRAUD AND VOTERS SAY REPUBLICANS ARE JUST TRYING TO SUPPRESS THE PEOPLE LIKELY TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.

JULIE, WHY ARE THEY -- WHAT IS THE REASON BEHIND PURGING THE VOTERS FROM BEING INACTIVE?

>> WELL, IT'S A RECORD-KEEPING MECHANISM THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A LONG TIME IN OHIO.

THIS RULE THAT'S AT ISSUE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1994.

YOU KNOW, THE IDEA IS OBVIOUSLY THESE PEOPLE ARE -- IF THEY DIE OR MOVE OR DOUBLE OR TRIPLE REGISTERED AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHERE THEY'VE LIVED AROUND THE STATE, THEN THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE OR GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE TWICE OR THREE TIMES.

THEY SIMPLY SAY NON-VOTERS SHOULD BE REMOVED.

I SBUFRD SOMEONE THAT BASICALLY SAID, FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE LAST YEAR.

THERE WERE MANY VOTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT DID NOT -- THEY CHOSE NOT TO VOTE AS AN ACT OF PROTEST.

THEY DIDN'T LIKE TRUMP OR CLINTON.

THAT IS THEIR RIGHT.

THAT SHOULDN'T MEAN THEY ARE SOMEHOW DEPRIVED OF THE RIGHT.

>> IF YOU SKIP ONE, YOU WILL BE INACTIVE FOR SIX YEARS.

SOME PEOPLEELECTIONS.

>> SOME OF THIS PURGING GOES BACK TO WHEN SHARON BROWN WAS SECRETARY OF STATE OR WHEN SHARON BRUNER WAS SECRETARY OF STATE.

PART OF IT IS NOT ADDS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND FOR CAMPAIGNS ON BOTH SIDES.

IF YOU HAVE LOTS OF NAMES THAT ARE INACTIVE AND IT'S NOT THAT HARD IF CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE.

IF YOU SIGN A PETITION FOR SOMEBODY, THAT COUNTS IN TERMS OF KEEPING YOUR ACTIVITY.

IT'S PRETTY EASY TO REGISTER TO VOTE, AND THEY AREN'T JUST PURGING PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU MISSED ONE ELECTION.

>> LISTEN, I THINK THAT IF YOU DIE, IF YOU MOVE, OR IF YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE VOTING FOR US FOR SOME LEGAL AND LEGITIMATE REASON, YOU SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROLLS.

I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE HAVE IS THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO FIND WAYS IN WHICH TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOLT, AND WE SHOULD BE ENL COURAGING VOTER PARTICIPATION RATHER THAN DISCOURAGING IT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU HAVE THIS LAWSUIT IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHO IS IT TO SAY THAT -- WHO IS IT TO SAY BECAUSE I DON'T VOTE FOR A COUPLE OF CYCLES, I SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROLLS.

>> YOU WON'T BE TAKEN OFF IF YOU DON'T VOTE FOR TWO CYCLES.

IT EFFECT TILY TAKES EIGHT YEARS OF INACTIVITY, UNRESPONDING.

>> IF YOU MISS A PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THEN YOU MISS ONE, YOU COULD BE TAKEN OFF?

>> EFFECTIVELY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET NOTICES THAT SAY DO YOU WANT TO STILL BE KEPT ON THE ROLLS?

>> I MEAN, IT IS -- IT IS A LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY.

I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WELL, WHEN I'M 18, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND REGISTER AND BE REGISTERED FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.

THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE, AND THAT'S WHAT THE COURT HAS TO DECIDE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONITORING OF THAT LIST.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO VOTE BECAUSE THERE WAS A TRUMP VERSUS CLINTON KIND OF RACE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE -- WHO FELT EXCITED TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS BECAUSE OF WHATEVER THE SITUATION WAS.

NOW IT'S EVERY LIBRARY, DMV, VOTE BY MAIL.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO BE REGISTERED.

>> YOU CAN REGISTER ON-LINE NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS COMPLAINT OF TRYING TO SUPPRESS PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO VOTE IS TOTALLY FALSE.

IT'S EASY, BUT AS A VOTER, YOU MIGHT OCCASIONALLY HAVE TO ACTUALLY VOTE OR SAY TO THE BOARD, KEEP ME ON THE ROLLS.

>> THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE HAD BEEN SENDING OUT THESE NOTICES EVERY SECOND YEAR, AND UNDER A PREVIOUS COURT ORDER HE NOW SENDS THEM OUT EVERY YEAR.

>> OUR LAST TOPIC, JUST AS OHIO GETS READY TO START SELLING LEGAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BRINGS UNCERTAINTY TO THE SYSTEM.

MARIJUANA IS STILL AGAINST FEDERAL LAW, BUT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION BASICALLY IGNORED THE LAW IN THE STATE THAT LEGALIZED IT.

THIS WEEK NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL RELATIVELY NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS ANNOUNCED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT COULD START CRACKING DOWN ON MARIJUANA.

HE IS LEAVING IT UP TO LOCAL FEDERAL PROSECUTORS, OHIO'S FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAYS SESSIONS' ACTION WON'T CHANGE THINGS HERE, AND THE STATE IS MOVING AHEAD WITH ESTABLISHING THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

WHAT IS THE U.S.

ATTORNEY FOR SOUTHERN OHIO SAYING?

>> THE IDEA THAT OUR STATE LEGISLATURE HAS NOW MADE THIS LEGAL.

>> I THINK IF YOU ARE IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY GET A LITTLE TOO CARRIED AWAY WITH RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, THE FEDS MIGHT STEP IN AND TIGHTEN SOME THINGS DOWN, BUT IT'S A SHIFT THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S A DRAMATIC SHIFT.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE TIED UP FOR YEARS IF YOU GET A PROSECUTION BECAUSE YOU HAVE STATES LIKE WASHINGTON THAT HAVE HAD MARIJUANA LEGAL FOR FIVE YEARS, AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO TELL THEM -- YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROSECUTOR GO AND PROSECUTE EITHER GROWERS OR PEOPLE THAT ARE PURCHASING THIS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE TIED UP IN COURT FOREVER.

>> AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT PROTECT OHIO'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA BECAUSE THERE IS A PROVISION IN FEDERAL LAW THAT PROTECTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA THAT MIGHT EXPIRE, BUT IT MIGHT BE -- >> BUDGET AMENDMENT.

>> YEAH.

>> LAW, THOUGH.

>> AS OF RIGHT NOW.

THEN THE OTHER THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THE U.S.

ATTORNEY DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO GO AFTER BECAUSE OHIO HAS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM WITH OPIOIDS RIGHT NOW THAT DEALING WITH MARIJUANA AND WHATEVER CRISIS MIGHT COME FROM MARIJUANA IS SECOND NATURE.

OBVIOUSLY OBAMA HAD ONE PERCEPTION OF IT.

HIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

VERSUS THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION.

THIS AFFECTS NOT ONLY GROWERS AND USERS.

THIS AFFECTS THE TESTING LABS.

YOU SAW KNOWN UNIVERSITIES -- THERE ARE ONLY TWO -- THAT WANT TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE IT'S POTENTIALLY UP AGAINST THAT FEDERAL -- BANKS DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND THAT KIND OF THING.

IS.

>> BANKS HAVE BEEN STAYING OUT OF IT FOR A WHILE.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> IT'S REAL SIMPLE.

IT'S THE LAW.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LAW, THEN CHANGE THE LAW.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CHANCES OF CONGRESS LEGALIZING AT LEAST MEDICAL MARIJUANA?

>> I THINK THAT CONGRESS WILL EVENTUALLY LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

RECREATIONAL, I THINK WE'RE A FEW YEARS FROM THAT.

I THINK PUBLIC DEMAND FOR THIS WILL DICTATE SOME OF THAT IN HOW CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS THINK ABOUT THIS AS WELL.

>> THIS IS JUST TURNING JEFF SESSIONS FROM CALIFORNIA BECAUSE OF JANUARY 1st.

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BECAME LEGAL THERE.

BIG ESTATE.

>> CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN PRETTY BIG SAYING, OH, WE'VE GOT POT, AND IT'S FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

I THINK PART OF IT IS IF YOU DID IT IN A MORE SUBTLE CONTROLLED MANNER, YOU'RE LESS LIKELY TO GET ATTENTION.

IF CALIFORNIA GETS TOO CARRIED AWAY, THEN THERE COULD BE SOME ACTION COMING.

>> I THINK THAT THE IDEA IS THE MORE STATES THAT OPEN THAT DOOR TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND THEN YOU GET CRITICAL FROM 25 STATES, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S NATIONALLY LEGAL EVERYWHERE.

>> IS THAT, WHAT, 34 STATES IT'S LEGAL FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

OVER 30 ANYWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET TO OUR WEEKLY OFF THE RECORD.

FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

YOU'RE UP FIRST.

>> THIS WEEK WAS A PRETTY HISTORIC WEEK OVER AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

KEVIN WAS JUST NAMED THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND HE IS NOT ONLY THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER, BUT HE IS ALSO THE FIRST PRESIDENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

IS IN COLUMBUS THERE'S BEEN A STORY THIS WEEK ON THE MURDER RATE.

COLUMBUS JUST SET A NEW RECORD, AND THE AMADING THING IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE DEBATE ON WHY DON'T WE HAVE MORE POLICE BECAUSE IN 2009 WHEN THEY PASSED THE 25% INCREASE IN THE CITY INCOME TAX, THEY PROMISED MORE POLICE.

ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU COMPARE 2009 TO THE END OF 2016, WE'VE GOT 25 LESS POLICE OFFICERS.

THE POPULATION IS UP 9.5%.

THE DRUG AND THE OTHER PROBLEMS.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SAY WHY DON'T YOU USE THE MONEY.

EVEN HUGH DORIAN AGREED.

CITY HALL SPINT E SPENT THE MONEY ON PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF POLICE.

>> JULIE.

>> I'M GAS STATION TO SAY A REPUBLICAN OTHER THAN MOOURK GIBBONS WILL BE A LONG SHOT.

PA THEY MIGHT LET HIM BE THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB.

>> THE LENL TOUR IS GOING TO COME BACK INTO SESSION NEXT WEEK AND A BILL THAT I THINK IS REALLY INTERESTING THAT MIGHT COME BACK IS THIS IDEA OF BANNING EMPLOYERS FROM FORCING EMPLOYEES TO GET THE FLU SHOT BECAUSE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES SAY WE DON'T WANT TO GET THE FLU SHOT.

>> HOW BIG IS DONALD TRUMP THIS WEEK.

THERE WAS A MAJOR SNOWSTORM.

IN THE CABLE NEWS NETWORKS ON THE DAY THE STORM WAS BEARING DOWN, HARDLY MENTIONED IT.

INSTEAD, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE BATTLE BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND STEVE BANNON.

THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S TURNED CABLE NEWS ON ITS EAR, AND THEY DON'T COVER WEATHER ANYMORE.

THAT'S HOW POWERFUL HE IS.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ON-LINE.

CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON FACEBOOK, ON TWITTER, AND YOU CAN WATCH EVERY EPISODE ON DEMAND AT OUR WEBSITE WOSU.ORG/COTR.

FOR OUR CREW AND OUR PANEL, IKE MIKE THOMPSON.