>>> TWO MONTHS TO PRIMARY DAY AND DISTRICT MAP MAKING REMAINS A MESS.

♪♪ >> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, JESSIE BALMERT STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE "CINCINNATI ENQUIRER."

TERRY CASEY REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND JOSEPH MAS OF THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION.

THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED FOR OHIO CANDIDATES TO FILE TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

THEY STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THEIR VOTERS WILL BE, HOWEVER.

THERE IS A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP, VERSION TWO APPROVED BY THE OHIO REDISTRICTING COMMISSION THIS WEEK.

IT CARVES THE STATE INTO 15 DISTRICTS, IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN THE FIRST VERSION REJECTED BY THE OHIO SUPREME COURT.

IT ESSENTIALLY GUARANTEES REPUBLICANS WIN AT LEAST TEN DISTRICTS, ONLY THREE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS WOULD BE CONSIDERED SAFE, WHILE TWO OTHERS SLIGHTLY LEAN DEMOCRATIC.

THE MAP GOES TO THE SUPREME COURT WHERE IT WILL CERTAINLY FACE LEGAL CHALLENGES AND, OF COURSE, THE SUPREME COURT IS STILL DECIDING THE FATE OF THE THIRD VERSION OF THE STATE LEGISLATIVE MAP.

JESSIE BALMERT, WHAT'S THE THINKING AT THE STATEHOUSE?

WILL THE SUPREME COURT GO FOR THIS CONGRESSIONAL MAP, THIS VERSION TWO THAT WAS RELEASE THIS HAD WEEK?

>> YEAH, I THINK PREDICTING WHAT THE OHIO SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO DO HAS BEEN A RISKY BUSINESS AS OF LATE, BUT THE SUPREME COURT HAS STRUCK DOWN TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE STATEHOUSE MAP AND ONE VERSION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP ALREADY AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THEY'VE RAISED ARE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GETTING CLOSE TO THE STATEWIDE VOTING PREFERENCES OF OHIOANS, WHICH IS AN EXPLICIT REQUIREMENT IN THE STATEHOUSE MAP, AND THEY ARE KIND OF -- REQUIREMENT ON THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

THESE MAPS ARE, AS YOU SAID, CLOSER, THEY'RE ABOUT TEN REPUBLICANS SAVE SEATS AND THEN DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF YEAR IT IS, DEMOCRATS COULD WIN ANYWHERE BETWEEN TWO AND FIVE OF THOSE SEATS, BUT THAT'S STILL SHORT OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE AN 8-7 OR 9-6 KIND OF MAP.

>> TERRY CASEY, SOME OF THE COUNTIES REMAIN MORE INTACT WITH THIS VERSION THAN THE FIRST VERSION AND YOU BELIEVE THAT'S -- THAT HELPS THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS' CASE IN GETTING THIS ONE APPROVED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE SUPREME COURT SAID FIX THINGS IN HAMILTON CUYAHOGA AND SUMMIT COUNTY AND THEY DID TO KEEP THEM LESS SPLIT AND LESS DAMAGED, THAT WAY THEY KEPT ALL THE MAJOR CITIES EXCEPT COLUMBUS WHOLE AND ALL IN ONE DISTRICT, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT.

COLUMBUS, OF COURSE, CAN'T BE ALL IN ONE DISTRICT BECAUSE COLUMBUS IS WAY TOO BIG TO FIT IN ONE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

SO BASICALLY THE SUPREME COURT SAID THE LAST TIME WHEN THEY REJECTED IT THESE WERE THE ONLY ISSUES THEY NEEDED TO FIX, THEY DID FIX THEM, IF YOU ACTUALLY READ IT.

AND THE OTHER THING IS IN THE CONGRESSIONAL LANGUAGE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT TO SHALL ATTEMPT PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

SO PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT'S AN INTENT OR A LIKE, BUT THAT'S NOT IN THE LETTER OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AS IT'S WRITTEN.

>> JOE MAS, IN THE FIRST DECISION REJECTING THE MAP THEY SAID THAT IT DIDN'T REFLECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS AND THE PROPORTIONALITY OF OHIO VOTERS.

DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE STILL A FACTOR IN THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN THIS CASE?

>> ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE I -- YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE ENTIRE THING, AND THE WAY THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN LOOKING AT IT.

NOW, LET ME HASTEN TO ADD THAT I DID SEE SOME OF THE RECENT ORDERS, I READ THEM THIS MORNING AND I ALSO LOOKED AT THE THREE MAPS AND I THINK THEY'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE ON THE OHIO HOUSE MAPS, WHILE THE OTHER ONES STILL WILL REMAIN SUBJECT TO CRITICISM BY THE SUPREME COURT.

SO IF I HAD TO PREDICT, I WOULD SAY THAT PERHAPS THE OHIO HOUSE MAP WILL BE APPROVED, AS-IS, AND THE OTHER TWO WILL NOT.

>> AS WE RECORD THIS PROGRAM ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON THE DECISION HAS NOT COME DOWN, IT COULD COME DOWN PERHAPS LATE FRIDAY IN THE EARLY EVENING AS I THINK IT HAS IN THE PAST.

JESSIE, WE STILL DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS AND THERE'S STILL CONTINUED UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THIS.

EVERYTHING IS ON HOLD AT THE STATEHOUSE UNTIL THIS GETS SETTLED, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

I MEAN, WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO IMPORTANT DEADLINES ON THE MAY 3rd PRIMARY.

THE MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTES, THOSE HAVE TO BE READY BY MARCH 18th SO THAT'S COMING UP VERY SOON, AND YOU REALLY CAN'T VOTE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IS RUNNING IN THE RACE, WHO IS TRYING TO REPRESENT YOU IN COLUMBUS OR IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

SO IT'S A MESS RIGHT NOW.

>> JOE MAS, THESE MAPS ARE BETTER FOR DEMOCRATS THAN THE ONES WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND THEY'RE BETTER THAN THE ONES THAT WERE FIRST PROPOSED.

IS THIS REALLY THE BEST THAT DEMOCRATS CAN HOPE FOR, THESE CURRENT VERSIONS?

>> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU TWO ANSWERS.

I WANT TO KIND OF GIVE YOU TWO ANSWERS BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHAT THE GOAL -- THE PARTISAN GOAL ON THE PART OF DEMOCRATS IS TO HAVE AS MANY ABSOLUTELY SAFE DISTRICTS, AND THAT ACTUALLY WAS PART OF THE ARGUMENT WHEN THEY SAT DOWN TO NEGOTIATE THE WORDING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, IT'S ALL ABOUT SAFETY.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I -- WELL, I CAN TELL YOU I DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT, BUT THE SECOND ANSWER IS EVEN WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF HAVING MORE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS ACROSS THE BOARD, BY THE WAY, I THINK THAT THE MAP -- THE MAPS ARE STILL UNFAIR WITH RESPECT TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF DEMOCRATS.

SO THAT'S WHY I SAY THAT WE MAY HAVE A PARTIAL VICTORY ON THE PART OF REPUBLICANS, FAIRLY SOON, ON THE HOUSE DISTRICTS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ON THE SENATE AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

>> TERRY CASEY, COULD REPUBLICANS HAVE HELPED THEIR CASE IF THEY HAD ONE OR TWO DISTRICTS IN THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP THAT WERE COMPETITIVE, NOT NECESSARILY SAFE?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THERE'S SOME ASSUMPTION THAT THERE IS A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA PRECISELY PREDICTS FOR EACH OF THE NEXT FIVE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS HOW IT WILL TURN OUT AND I REMEMBER IN THE 15th DISTRICT RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL OHIO, WYLIE AND PRICE OF THE SAME DISTRICT WON BIG, THEN THEY HAD TWO CLOSE RACES THAT WERE LITERALLY PHOTO FINISHES AND THEN IN 2010 SAME DISTRICT STEVE STIVERS WON BY 13 POINTS.

>> AND REPUBLICANS -- >> -- MATHEMATICAL FORMULA BUT IT DOESN'T WORK.

>> REPUBLICANS HAVE HELD THAT DISTRICT EASILY SINCE.

YOU COULD ARGUE REPUBLICANS SAW THE CLOSE RACE AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT EASY FOR STIVERS TO WIN THAT RACE.

>> IN '06 AND '08 THEY WERE PHOTO FINISHES.

SO MY POINT IS THIS OBSESSION WITH THE MATHEMATICAL PREDICTION OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS NOT REALITY BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON THE YEAR, IT DEPENDS ON THE CANDIDATES, IT DEPENDS ON THE CAMPAIGNS.

>> STIVERS WHEN THEY REDID THE MAPS AFTER '06 AND '08 AND REPUBLICANS HAVE WON FAIRLY EASILY SINCE THEN.

WE STILL DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE IF OHIO WILL HOLD ITS PRIMARY ON MAY 3rd AND WHETHER IT WILL DELAY THE PRIMARY OR WHETHER IT WILL HOLD TWO PRIMARIES, MAYBE EVEN MORE.

WHENEVER THEY ARE HELD IT WILL COST TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY THAN PLANNED.

STATE LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK APPROVED SPENDING AN EXTRA $9 MILLION TO HELP COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS OFFSET THE EXPENSES CAUSED BY ALL OF THIS UNCERTAINTY.

TERRY CASEY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN ELECTIONS AND ELECTION MANAGEMENT.

ARE THEY GOING TO HOLD THIS PRIMARY ON MAY 3rd?

>> THERE IS NO APPETITE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TODAY TO MOVE IT BACK, BUT THE REALITY IS FRANK LA ROSE WAS VERY SPECIFIC AND I'VE TALKED TO A WIDE RANGE OF ELECTION OFFICIALS THIS PAST WEEK AND SOME COUNTIES ARE WELL-PREPARED LIKE IN DELAWARE OR SOMEWHAT IN FRANKLIN, BUT A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES DON'T HAVE THE PRINTING.

AND ONE BIG THING IS BALLOT ROTATION.

YOU NEED TO HAVE BALLOT ROTATION, THAT ENSURES FAIRNESS FOR THE CANDIDATES, WHETHER YOUR NAME BEGINS WITH A W OR BEGINS WITH AN A, BUT GETTING THAT RIGHT, BECAUSE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY ALONE THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE 1,200 DIFFERENT BALLOT TYPES TO SORT OUT AND BE READY, WEEKS IN ORDER TO SEND OUT TO THE OVERSEAS MILITARY AND DO IT ACCORDING TO LAW.

THAT'S ALMOST MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

>> ROTATION IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SAME NAME FIRST ON THE LIST GIVING THAT CANDIDATE PRESUMABLY POSSIBLY AN ADVANTAGE.

>> RIGHT.

>> JESSIE BALMERT, WE ARE -- FILING DEADLINE FOR CONGRESS WAS TODAY BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE MAPS YET.

WHAT IS THE THINKING AT THE STATEHOUSE?

WHY NOT JUST PULL THE PLUG AND DELAY THE PRIMARY UNTIL JUNE?

>> I THINK THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO AND I THINK THEY ARE AT A PLACE WHERE IF EITHER OF THESE IS REJECTED WITH THE STATEHOUSE MAPS OR CONGRESSIONAL MAP IS REJECTED THEY WILL HAVE TO MOVE IT.

SO EITHER THEY WILL HAVE TO MOVE IT OR THE COURT WILL HAVE TO MOVE IT AND WE WILL BE KIND OF PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN.

>> JOE MAS, DO VOTERS KEEP UP WITH THIS?

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE SHOWING UP ON MAY 3rd IF THERE IS NO ELECTION.

VOTERS WILL FIGURE THIS OUT AND THEY WILL SHOW UP ON THE RIGHT DAY, RIGHT?

>> NO, NOT NECESSARILY.

BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS STUFF DELAYED VERY RECENTLY BECAUSE OF COVID ANYWAY.

SO PRESUMABLY THE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PRIMARIES, WILL BE UP TO DATE ON -- ON THE DATE, BUT I AGREE WITH TERRY 100%, I THINK THERE IS NO APPETITE RIGHT NOW AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE SUPREME COURT TO APPROVE THE MAPS AS THEY ARE AND I DO AGREE ALSO THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE -- THE PRIMARY WILL HAVE TO BE PUSHED BACK.

>> TERRY, WHERE DO CANDIDATES STAND ON THIS?

I MEAN, DOES IT BENEFIT CANDIDATES?

I SUPPOSE IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT LOOKING TO RUN FOR CONGRESS THIS REALLY PUTS YOU IN A BIND, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO RUN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS GOING TO BE, WHAT DISTRICT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN.

REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE PRETTY SAFE IN THOSE DISTRICTS, DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO BE WATCHING THIS VERY CAREFULLY.

>> WELL, THE CONFUSION IS MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE FOR CONGRESS THERE'S SOME LATITUDE AND FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU'RE A REGISTERED VOTER IN OHIO YOU CAN RUN IN ANY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, BUT IT'S VERY COMPLICATED AND SOME PEOPLE HINT AT WHY DOESN'T THE COURT JUST MOVE THE ELECTION BACK, BECAUSE UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION ONLY THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAN SET THE MANNER AND THE MEANS OF THE ELECTION.

SO IT TAKES AN ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE PASSED AS AN EMERGENCY IN ORDER TO MOVE THAT DATE OF ELECTION BACK.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURES AND CLEARLY THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT THE OHIO SUPREME COURT MIGHT WISH TO DO BUT THEY CAN'T DO BECAUSE THEY'RE LEGALLY PROHIBITED FROM ORDERING SUCH THINGS.

>> OKAY.

DESPITE THE ELECTION UNCERTAINTY THE CAMPAIGNS CONTINUE.

JIM RENACCI CONTINUES TO HIT ON GOVERNOR DeWINE FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

NAN WHALEY AND JOHN CRANLEY SEEM TO BE RUNNING COMPETITIVE BUT CIVIL CAMPAIGNS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

OF COURSE REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE ARE WATCHING THEIR EMAIL CLOSELY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

JOE MAS, FIRST TO THE DEMOCRATIC RACE FOR GOVERNOR, IT'S STILL KIND OF FLYING UNDER THE RADAR.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS RACE SHAPING OUT IN THE NEXT TWO, MAYBE THREE MONTHS?

>> CRANLEY AND WHALEY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE WHALEY CAMPAIGN -- I HAVEN'T SEEN NECESSARILY ADS ON EITHER OF THE CANDIDATES BUT SHE SENDS OUT EMAILS EVERY SINGLE DAY SO YOU DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE WORKING ON THE CAMPAIGN AND I THINK THAT SHE HAS PROBABLY THE UPPER HAND WITH RESPECT TO NAME RECOGNITION.

SHE HAS THE UPPER HAND WITH RESPECT TO THE EXPECTATIONS FROM A FEMALE CANDIDATE.

SO THAT'S WHERE AT LEAST THOSE TWO MIGHT STAND ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

NOW, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE MIKE DeWINE IS CERTAINLY AHEAD IN THE POLLING WITH RESPECT TO THE REPUBLICAN SLATE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT REMAINS TO BE SCENE.

EVERYBODY ELSE IS RUNNING TO BE NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST REPUBLICAN BUT THE MOST TRUMPIAN REPUBLICAN.

>> TERRY CASEY, THERE WAS A POLL OUT THIS WEEK BY EMERSON, THERE WAS SOME DUBIOUS METHODOLOGY THERE BUT IT DID SHOW US SOME TRENDS.

MIKE DeWINE'S APPROVAL RATING IS DOWN TO 42%, AT THE HEIGHT OF COVID IT WAS UP IN THE 70s.

IS THAT SOMETHING HE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT?

>> WELL, THAT POLL WAS VERY FLAWED IN BOTH ITS SMALL SAMPLE SIZE, ONLY 288 REPUBLICANS AND THEIR FAILURE TO ROTATE THE NAMES WHICH GAVE PEOPLE LIKE BLIGHSTONE AND GIBB BINS AN ADVANTAGE.

THE POLL POINTS OUT THAT PEOPLE LIKE RENACCI IS STRUGGLING BECAUSE HE IS IN A FIELD OF THREE ANTI-INCUMBENT FOLKS AGAINST DeWINE AND THAT SPLITS UP THAT ANTI VOTE THAT ALWAYS EXISTS OUT THERE ON ANY INCUMBENT.

THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT SAYS SOME CANDIDATES HAVE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

AND FOR THE DEMOCRATS FOR GOVERNOR WHEN THEY ARE BOTH AT 16.7 AMONG DEMOCRATS, THAT TELLS YOU THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EITHER UNEXCITED OR UNINFORMED ABOUT THEIR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> A LOT OF UNDECIDED ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

JESSIE BALMERT IS SEEMS LIKE JIM RENACCI SHOULD BE GOING AFTER BUYSTONE TO GIVE HIM SOME SEPARATION FROM HIS COMPETITOR ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> I FEEL LIKE ALL THREE OF THOSE CANDIDATES, BLYSTONE AND RON HOOD AND JIM RENACCI WHAT THEY REALLY NEED IS TO CLEAR THE FIELD.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT BUT IF THEY WERE ONE CANDIDATE GOING AGAINST MIKE DeWINE AND THE ANTI-DeWINE SENTIMENT STEMMING FROM COVID CLOSURES OR PAST VOTES OR WHAT HAVE YOU THEY WOULD HAVE A SHOT BUT IF YOU'RE SPLITTING THE SHOT IT SEEMS LIKE MIKE DeWINE WILL HAVE A PRETTY CLEAR PATH.

>> RON HOOD HAS A CAMPAIGN WEBSITE UP FOR GOVERNOR NOW, IT TOOK HIM A LITTLE WHILE, IT'S A PRETTY THIN WEBSITE.

IS HE A SERIOUS CANDIDATE OR A NAME ON THE BALLOT?

>> I THINK HE'S SERIOUS, I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE THE 1990s WHEN HE WAS A STRAIGHT REPRESENTATIVE FOR MAHONING COUNTY.

HE'S GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT AMONG SOME PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT TO WORK FIELD, ALSO IN THE GUN FIELD.

SO I THINK LIKE WHEN HE RAN FOR CONGRESS HE WILL GET SOME OUTSIDE MONEY, HE WILL DO SOME THINGS AND HE'S DEFINITELY NOT A SHY GUY WHO WON'T SIT OFF IN THE CORNER, HE WILL BE DOING SOME THINGS AND SO EXPECT A HEATED PRIMARY.

>> HE'S WAY BACK IN THE POLLS AND OF COURSE GOT KIND OF A LATE START COMPARED TO THE OTHER FOLKS IN THAT RACE, GOVERNOR DeWINE OF COURSE OF IS INCUMBENT BUT RENACCI HAS BEEN RUNNING AS HAS BLYSTONE.

>> WE HAVE TIM RYAN, MORGAN HARPER, THE POLLS SHOWED RYAN IN THE LEAD AGAIN, METHODOLOGY TO BE QUESTIONED BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE NOT A SURPRISE THERE.

HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO NOVEMBER I WOULD GUESS.

>> YEAH, AND ALSO THE ENDORSEMENT FROM THE STATE PARTY.

AND HE SEEMS TO BE REALLY WAY AHEAD, YOU KNOW, HE JUST CAME OFF AT LEAST AN ATTEMPT AT CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT AND GOT SOME VISIBILITY, NAME RECOGNITION AND SO ON.

SO I THINK UNLESS SOMETHING UNUSUAL HAPPENS THAT TIM RYAN SHOULD HAVE -- SHOULD PREVAIL IN THE PRIMARY.

>> JESSIE BALMERT, NONE OF THE REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE EXCEPT FOR BERNIE MORENO HE DROPPED OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BUT NONE OF THE OTHER HAVE DROPPED OFF.

THE POLLS INDICATE AND EVEN THE ONES WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST MONTH THAT THEY ARE ALL FAIRLY COMPETITIVE, EVEN MATT DOLAN HAS RISEN IN THE POLLS.

LOOKS LIKE THESE CANDIDATES ARE IN THE RACE TO STAY AT THIS POINT, WOULD YOU GUESS?

>> YEAH, I THINK WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PLURALITY OF THE VOTE, WHEN YOU JUST FEEL LIKE YOU CAN SLICE OFF THE SECTION OF VOTERS OF THE GOP ELECTORATE THAT YOU CAN WIN, IT SEEMS LIKE A FEASIBLE OPTION FOR A LOT OF THESE CANDIDATES.

AND SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING IF ANYONE ELSE DROPS OUT.

I EXPECT IF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ENDS UP ENDORSING THE FIELD A LITTLE BIT BUT IF THE FORMER PRESIDENT DOESN'T GET INVOLVED YOU COULD SEE A PACKED PRIMARY.

>> LOOKING AT THE TEXAS RESULTS AND DONALD TRUMP'S STATEMENTS AFTER THE PRIMARY HE WAS STRESSING THAT CANDIDATES HE PICKED WON, WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO PICK A CANDIDATE IN OHIO IF THERE'S ANY DOUBT THAT THAT PERSON COULD NOT WIN.

>> BINGO.

YOU'VE WON THE PRIZE.

HE IS THE KIND OF HORSE BETTER THAT WAITS TO SEE WHO IS RUNNING DOWN THE STRETCH AND WHO IS AHEAD AND THEN HE BETS ON THAT SURE WINNER.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S IN MY MIND HIGHLY DOUBT -- >>> -- FOR 100,000 PEOPLE THE CDC SAYS MASKS ARE NOT NECESSARY IN PUBLIC PLACES.

TERRY CASEY, THE CITY HAS BEEN CAUTIOUS WAITING FOR THIS CDC LEVEL TO GET TO THAT POINT.

IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO?

>> NO, I THINK LOOKING AT JUST THE TEST RESULTS IT WAS THE OLD WAY OF DOING IT BUT THE MORE RELEVANT MEASUREMENT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ICU WARDS, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE HOSPITALS AND CLEARLY THOSE NUMBERS FORTUNATELY ARE WAY, WAY DOWN.

SO CLEARLY AND ALSO THE PUBLIC MOOD, I MEAN, WE SEE THIS A LOT OF UNITED STATES, DEMOCRAT GOVERNORS THAT WERE SLOW TO DO AWAY WITH THE BANS, PEOPLE KNOW WE'RE ONLY EIGHT MONTHS AWAY FROM THE ELECTION AND THEY KNOW VOTERS ARE TIRED OF THIS AND QUESTIONING WHETHER IT'S ALL WORKING QUITE AS WELL.

SO CLEARLY THERE'S A BIG RETREAT, PEOPLE ARE SHIFTING GEARS, LEARNING TO LIVE WITH IT.

>> JESSIE BALMERT, COLUMBUS WOULD BE AMONG THE LAST CITIES IN THE STATE TO LIFT THIS MASK MANDATE.

IT'S JUST PART OF THE -- PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

>> YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE OTHER LARGE CITIES IN OHIO EITHER HAVEN'T HAD THESE MASK REQUIREMENTS FOR QUITE SOME TIME OR THEY LOOKED AT THEM EARLIER, OBVIOUSLY A LARGER POPULATION THAN SOME OF THOSE AREAS, BUT I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE MEASURES THAT TERRY MENTIONED, THE HOSPITALIZATIONS, THE ICUs AND THOSE ARE THANKFULLY GOING DOWN.

>> JOE MAS, PERHAPS IT'S A KRINS DENSE, BUT THE MASK MANDATE WILL BE IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE ARNOLD FESTIVAL WHICH WAS THE KICKOFF TO THE DEBATE THAT SHUT DOWN TWO YEARS AGO.

DO YOU THINK THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, ALL THESE FOLKS COMING IN FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, EVEN AROUND THE WORLD, KEEP THE MASK MANDATE IN PLACE UNTIL THEY LEAVE TOWN AND THEN LET IT GO?

>> A SMALL PRICE TO PAY, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE COMING IN FROM NOT ONLY THE UNITED STATES BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD AND WHY NOT.

I MEAN, LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE IT, THEN WE WILL SEE MONDAY WHAT HAPPENS IN CITY COUNCIL AND GO ON FROM THERE.

SMALL PRICE TO PAY.

>> JOE, WHAT BEHAVIORS DO YOU THINK WILL REMAIN AFTER THIS HOPEFULLY PANDEMIC FADES AWAY?

>> I WILL TELL YOU A BEHAVIOR -- TWO BEHAVIORS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND THAT IS -- IT'S ACTUALLY THE STATUS QUO RIGHT NOW, THAT IS IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION I WOULD LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE MASKS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

THE OTHER ONE IS IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY HOME.

IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY HOME.

I THINK THAT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD AND I THINK IT WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS CONTROLLING NOT ONLY THIS, BUT THE FLU AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT IF YOU'RE SICK STAY HOME, I THINK THAT'S BEEN REINFORCED IN WORKPLACES ALL OVER THE PLACES, HOPEFULLY THAT STICKS.

GOVERNOR DeWINE FACES A TOUGH DECISION AFTER THE 2019 DAYTON MASS SHOOTING HE PROMISED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUN REGULATIONS, HE TRIED TO WIN PASSAGE OF MODEST RESTRICTIONS THEY WENT NOWHERE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

IN FACT, LAWMAKERS HAVE LOOSENED GUN RULES AND HE HAS SIGNED THOSE CHANGES.

LAWMAKERS HAVE APPROVED THAT WOULD ALLOW LEGAL GUN OWNERS TO CARRY HIDDEN GUNS WITHOUT A PERMIT AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING.

NO LONGER WOULD THEY BE REQUIRED TO TELL A POLICE OFFICER THEY ARE CARRYING A GUN, UNLESS THE OFFICER ASKS.

WHAT BILL NOW SITS ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

JESSIE BALMERT, WHERE DOES THE GOVERNOR STAND ON THIS, DO WE KNOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK HE HAS MADE AN EXPRESS STATEMENT ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK HE'S LIKELY TO SIGN THE LEGISLATION IN PART BECAUSE IN 2018 WHEN HE WAS CAMPAIGNING THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HE SAID HE WOULD SUPPORT OR TOLD PEOPLE HE WOULD SUPPORT AND SO THE CHANGES WOULD ELIMINATE PERMITS AND TRAINING REQUIRED TO CARRY A CONCEALED GUN.

RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CLASS AND A SHORT SHOOTING LESSON AND ALSO YOU HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS TO GET A PERMIT AND THOSE WOULD GO AWAY UNDER THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> THIS SEEMS LIKE A BILL YOU MIGHT SIGN LATE ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON BUT AS OF EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON HE HAS NOT SIGNED T TERRY CASEY, CAN HE VETO THIS AND RUN IN A PRIMARY TWO MONTHS LATER AGAINST MORE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS.

>> I THINK JESSIE SUMMARIZED IT PRETTY WELL, HE'S BASICALLY INDICATED THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNED AND BECOME LAW AND THE REAL PROBLEM CONTINUES TO BE WHEN YOU HAVE CRIMINALS, PAST CONVICTED FELONS, ET CETERA, ILLEGALLY GETTING GUNS, THAT'S WHERE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS WITH MOST OF THE MURDERS IN COLUMBUS.

IT'S NOT WITH CONCEALED CARRY PEOPLE WHO ARE LAW ABIDING, ET CETERA.

SO I WISH THERE WAS AN EASY SOLUTION BECAUSE GUNS ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT I'M NOT SURE THIS CHANGE IS GOING TO SUBSTANTIALLY ALTER THE REALITIES OF TODAY.

>> JOE MAS, I CAN SEE THE AD ESPECIALLY IF NAN WHALEY WINS THE PRIMARY, I CAN SEE THE AD OF CROWDS IN DAYTON CHANTING DO SOMETHING AND THEN AN IMAGE OF GOVERNOR DeWINE SIGNING A BILL SAYING THAT HE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING.

YOU CAN SEE THAT AD COMING UP IN THE FALL.

>> I TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT JESSIE WAS RECAPPING THE HISTORY ON THIS, MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT RIGHT AFTER THE DAYTON MASSACRE THAT DeWINE SAID THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO SIGN LEGISLATION EXPANDING GUN RIGHTS, HOWEVER, HE HAS SINCE THEN.

MY GUESS IS THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO SIGN IT, BUT HE'S GOING TO LET IT BECOME LAW BECAUSE IF HE SITS ON IT FOR TEN DAYS IT BECOMES LAW ANYWAY.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY GUESS ON THIS, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A BET ON IT.

>> JESSIE, HAS THERE BEEN ANY TALK OF THAT, HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS?

HOW YOU CAN SORT OF JUST SORT OF LET IT BECOME LAW ON ITS OWN?

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY AN OPTION, THAT'S AN OPTION WITH ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION, SO WE SHALL SEE.

>> HE STILL CERTAINLY WILL BE ASKED ABOUT IT IN THE COMING YEARS, COMING MONTHS, TERRY, AND HOW CAN HE EXPLAIN THE DO SOMETHING AND THEN NOW LOOSENING GUN RESTRICTIONS OVERALL?

>> WELL, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TAKE THE MIDDLE ROAD OF I WILL LET IT BECOME LAW WITHOUT MY SIGNATURE YOU END UP MAKING BOTH SIDES UNHAPPY.

SO MY GUESS IS I THINK JESSIE HAD IT NAILED ORIGINALLY.

HE WILL PROBABLY SIGN IT BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WHETHER IT'S MAY OR JUNE WE'VE GOT A PRIMARY COMING UP AND THE LEGISLATURE PASSED IT, THEY MIGHT HAVE THE VOTES, I'M NOT SURE, TO OVERRIDE IT, SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF STIRRING UP THAT HORNETS NEST?

>> TIME NOW FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS, PREDICTIONS, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKS AHEAD.

JOSEPH MAS, YOU ARE UP FIRST.

>> MY SORT OF A FOLLOW-UP TO YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE AS WE MOVE ON FROM THE PANDEMIC AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE RETURN TO NORMACY IS THE GREAT LOGIC OF IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY HOME.

A REMAINING PROBLEM, THOUGH, IS THE FRAGILITY OF JOB PROTECTIONS PARTICULARLY IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE INDUSTRIES.

IT IS TIME TO PASS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE JOBS OF FOLKS WHO DO THE RIGHT THING AND STAY HOME WHEN THEY OR THEIR CHILDREN ARE SICK.

>> TERRY CASEY, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.

>> IN THE UPCOMING REPUBLICAN PRIMARY I THINK THERE WILL BE THREE TOP PEOPLE IN THE FINAL THREE AND ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE MONEY AND RESOURCES AND POTENTIALLY WITH A JUNE PRIMARY IF YOU HAVE FUEL FOR THE TANKS TO KEEP FIRING, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF, THE OTHER PEOPLE I DON'T THINK HAVE THE LIQUIDITY OR CASH TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES LONG TERM.

>> OKAY.

AND JESSIE BALMERT, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT.

>> SO IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHAT WITH JOE BLYSTONE, THIS OUTSIDER CANDIDATE FOR OHIO GOVERNOR AND FASHIONS HIMSELF A COWBOY AND HE SAID THAT EVERYONE LIKES COWBOYS, EVERYBODY LIKES JOHN WAYNE UNLESS YOU ARE A COMMUNIST.

>> HE IS A CHARACTER.

GOT TO GIVE JOE BLYSTONE THAT.

HE'S GETTING ATTENTION AND WINS THE LAWN SIGN COMPETITION.

MY FINAL THOUGHT IS OHIO PUBLIC RADIO A STATIONS ANNOUNCED A NEW COLLABORATIVE LED BY WOSU AND STATIONS IN YELLOW SPRINGS, IT'S CALLED THE OHIO NEWSROOM.

WE WILL TRY TO TELL THE STORIES OUTSIDE OF COLUMBUS, OUTSIDE OF THE STATEHOUSE, GET TO THOSE PARTS OF THE STATE LIKE ZANSVILLE AND LIMA YOU DON'T HEAR FROM OFTEN.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

CHECK OUT OUT ONLINE AND OUR WEBSITE WOSU/TSR.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.