>>> THIS WEEK ON COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND DESIREE OF INOVAGDS OHIO.

FOR MONTHS, CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN RAISING MONEY, COLLECTING ENDORSEMENTS AND MEETING WITH VOTERS BUT NOT UNTIL THIS WEEK DID MANY BECOME OFFICIAL CANDIDATES FOR STATE OFFICE.

THAT INCLUDES A NEW REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, BRINGING THE NUMBER TO FOUR.

RON HOOD JOINED THE SOMEWHAT CROWDED GOP PRIMARY FIELD.

HE, FARMER JOE AND FORMER CONGRESSMAN ARE ALL CHALLENGING MIKE DEWINE.

ALL THREE CHALLENGERS ARE STRONGLY CONSERVATIVE AND CRITICAL OF DEWINE'S COVID PALL ACES.

FOR MIKE DEWINE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE MORE THE MERRIER.

IF THE CONSERVATIVES ARE THAT MUCH OPPOSED TO MIKE DEWINE POLICIES, WHY NOT CONSOLIDATE INTO ONE CANDIDATE?

>> SEEMS LIKE EACH ONE OF THE GENTLEMAN THINK THEY HAVE A BETTER VISION FOR OHIO.

I'M JUST A LAWYER BUT YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THE MORE CANDIDATES.

THE GOVERNOR IS DOING REALLY WELL.

WITH FOUR PEOPLE IN THE RACE, THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP TO ONE OF THOSE FOUR BREAKING THROUGH.

>> WHY IS FORMER STATE REP, RON HOOD, RUNNING?

I LOOKED FOR HIS GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN WEBSITE AND COULDN'T FIND IT.

HIS OLD WEBSITE TO WIN STEVE CYBER'S OLD SEAT IN 2021 IS THERE BUT NO GOVERNOR WEBSITE FOR HIM.

IS HE A SERIOUS CANDIDATE, DO YOU THINK?

>> NOT TO BE BILL CLINTON ON YOU BUT DEPENDS HOW YOU DEFINE SERIOUS.

CERTAINLY REPRESENTATIVE HOOD ARE CONSERVATIVE FAITHFUL.

HE IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF WHAT SOME FACETIOUSLY CALLED THE CAVEMAN CAUCUS BACK IN THE DAY.

REPRESENTATIVE HOOD IS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THAT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

HE RAN FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION THAT MIKE CAREY AND DEWINE, AFTER HE WAS ENDORSED BY PT AND THAT'S THE ACTIVITY.

AGAIN, JOE BLIESTONE.

I THINK HE'S WINNING THE YARD SIGN BATTLE.

THAT'S PERHAPS ALL.

I THINK MIKE HIT IT ON THE HEAD WITH MIKE DEWINE'S EXPERIENCE, NAME RECOGNITION.

DELUDED COMPETITION AND FRANKLY THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BANK ROLL OF CAMPAIGN CASH IS GOING TO BE FORMIDABLE FOR ANYONE TO CHALLENGE HIM.

>> IS IT HARMEL FOR THE PARTY TO HAVE THIS MUCH IN FIGHTING.

IT'S THREE MONTHS UNTIL THE PRIMARY AND THEY'RE SHORT.

IT'S GOING TO FORCE MIKE DEWINE AND HIS SUPPORTERS TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, WHICH THEY'RE DOING, TO DEFEAT THE CHALLENGE IN THE PRIMARY.

>> YOU JUST WANT A STRAIGHT SHOT TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

BUT PRIMARIES ARE HEALTHY.

DEMOCRATS HAVE ONE IN ALL THE RACES.

THE SENATE AND GUBERNATORIAL RACE, THAT IS.

JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY WANTS TO RUN DOESN'T MEAN IT'S IN FIGHTING.

IT'S YOUR GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO PUT YOUR HAT IN THE RING AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IF DONALD TRUMP WEIGHED IN FOR SOMEBODY OTHER THAN MIKE DEWINE, WE'D HAVE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T APPEAR ONE OF THOSE THREE WOULD BREAK THREE.

HE DID BEAT MARY TAYLOR 60 SOMETHING TO 40 SOMETHING AND HE WENT ON TO WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND SAME THING WILL HAPPEN THIS TIME.

SFRRLS >> AND CANICIDE OOD JOIN UP WITH MIKE CAN WINE.

EARNING TO THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE TOUGH TO A COUPLE OF CIVIL BEGINNINGS.

FORMER MAYOR OF DAYTON AND FORMER MAYOR OF CINCINNATI.

SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE.

URGED THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY NOT TO ENDORSE BEFORE THE PRIMARY AND KEEP IT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

>> I THINK IT WAS A STRATEGIC AND SMART MOVE BY THE WAY WE CAMPAIGN.

I ALSO THINK IT'S A SMART AND STRATEGIC MOVE BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THEY SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDEA OF HEALTHY PRIMARIES, EVERYBODY PUTTING THEIR HAT IN THE RING.

WE KNOW MAYOR CRANLEY AND WAYLY ARE FRIENDS.

IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THE BATTLE OF SOUTHWEST OHIO MAYORS DUKE IT OUT FOR GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP ON OUR SIDE AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HAVING HEALTHY POLICY-ORIENTED DISCUSSIONS AND NOT HOW FAR CAN YOU GO FOR TEAM DONALD TRUMP.

SO, WE'RE THRILLED.

>> ONE CLAIMED THEY HAD MORE CASH ON HAND BUT THEY'RE PRETTY EVENLY MATCHED.

DO WE READ ANYTHING INTO THAT?

>> I THINK THEY'RE STRONG CANDIDATES.

AGAIN, THEY'RE FRIENDS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL BATTLE FOR ARE THEIR IDEAS.

WE'LL SEE HOW THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY IN THE FUTURE.

THEY BOTH HAVE HEALTHY CASH ON HAND.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING THEIR MESSAGE OUT TO THE VOTERS AND THE BASE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THEY MESSAGE AROUND THEIR PARTICULAR POLICY IDEAS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE OHIO STRONGER THAN IS TODAY.

>> HOW DO YOU SEE THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE SHAPING UP?

WHAT WHO WILL BE THE CANDIDATE EACH VOTER GOES FOR?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

YOU MENTIONED THE ENDORSEMENT OF DEMS AREN'T GOING TO DO THAT.

I LOOKED AT ALL THE GLOWING THINGS FROM FUNDING TO POLL NUMBERS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT WAS VIRTUALLY THE EXACT SAME MEMO THEY SENT IN ATTEMPTING TO WIN THE ENDORSEMENT.

JUST A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE.

SO, FORMER MAYOR WAYLY BACKED OFF OF THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS A CHANGE OF HEART, WHAT HAPPENED.

AN INTERESTING CHANGE OF DYNAMICS HIRE.

I THINK MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE SURPRISING THAT THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, WITHOUT RELIABLE POLLING, THEY DO SEEM TO BE EVENLY MATCHED THIS TIME.

I THINK DEMS ARE GOING TO BE VERY PRAGMATIC.

WHO'S THE BETTER CANDIDATE TO BEAT MIKE DEWINE.

>> THE INTEL DEVELOPMENT IN NEW ALBANY WILL LIKELY BE A CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

DEWINE CAN CLAIM THE CREATION OF THOUSANDS OF CONSTRUCTION AND PERMANENT JOBS AND THE POSSIBLE BIRTH OF OHIO MANUFACTURING.

THE STATE PROMISES TO INVEST AT LEAST 2 BILLION IN TAX MONEY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.

OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE ARE A BIT JELLS OF THE COLUMBUS AREA GETTING THIS BIG PRIZE.

THE PLAN LIKELY WILL DRASTICALLY CHANGE RURAL LOOKING COUNTY AND THEY'VE PROMISED TO POWER THE PLANT THROUGH RENEWABLE SERVICES.

WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN POPULAR WITH MANY AT THE STATE HOUSE.

THIS IS A WIN FOR MIKE DEWINE.

BUT WHAT COULD BE THE POLITICAL FALLOUT LONG TERM FOR THE PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT?

>> WE SAW WHAT YOU DID WITH POWER BROKERS.

SO, THAT WAS VERY GOOD.

THE THINGS YOU'RE LISTING AS POTENTIAL DOWN SIDES CAN BE PIN PECKS IN THE LARGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OHIO HISTORY.

$20 BILLION, 10,000 JOBS.

AVERAGE WAGE FOR THE JOB AT INTEL.

35,000 A YEAR.

OHIO'S NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

NOT EVEN THOSE OF US OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE MEGA DEALS OF THE PAST.

THIS DWARVES IT.

WHILE THE DEAL IS DONE, THERE'S LOTS OF WORK TO DO.

GETTING VARIOUS PERMISSION, REPAIRING THAT SIDE.

GETTING ALL THE PROPERTY ASSEMBLED AND ARRANGED, GETTING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE.

AND ONE THING THAT'S NOT BEEN DONE YET.

IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR THE PROJECT.

BUT STATE OFFICIALS REALLY WANT IT.

TO PASS THAT SO-CALLED CHIPS ACT THAT WOULD HELP THE PROJECT TO GET DONE MORE QUICK AND I THINK MORE EFFICIENTLY.

CONDITIONS OF THAT WERE PART OF THE COMPETE ACT THAT THE U.S. HOUSE JUST PASSED.

AS THE A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF IN THERE.

SO, I HAVE NO IDEA IF REPUBLICANS WILL VOTE FOR THAT IN THE SENATE OR NOT.

SO, WE'LL SEE.

THIS IS A BIG WIN.

THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

>> HOW DO DEMOCRATS TAKE ON THE ISSUE?

JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE DEWINE?

THIS IS GREAT FOR OHIO?

HOW CAN THEY COMPETE IN THE UPCOMING CAMPAIGN?

>> THE INTEL PLANT COMING TO OHIO IS A BIG DEAL AND DEMOCRATS AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE ARE REALLY EXCITED.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS IS A PART OF THE JOE BIDEN, BIDEN BOOM.

WE ARE SEEING JOBS BEING PUMPED INTO THE ECONOMY LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE THE DAYS OF JIMMY CARTER.

THIS IS ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN HITTING THE TRAIL AND TALKING TO COMPANIES ABOUT INVESTING AND BRINGING JOBS BACK THE TO OHIO, BACK THE TO THE COUNTRY.

MAKING THINGS IN AMERICA.

AND WE ARE SEEING THE FRUITS OF THAT LABOR HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OHIO.

>> THIS REMINDS ME OF THE GOOD G OLD DAYS OF THE OBAMA/KASICH RECOVERY IN OHIO.

WHO WINS THIS BATTLE?

>> ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL.

AND THE GOVERNOR OF OHIO IS GOING TO GET MORE SPOTLIGHT, MORE CREDIT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCHED THE PRESS CONFERENCE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD WITH THE INTEL CEO BEFORE HE FLEW OHIO.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I HOPE WE DON'T CARE WHO TAKES CREDIT.

BUT IT'S A POLITICAL ELECTION YEAR.

GOVERNOR DEWINE SHOULD TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT.

HEY, JOE BIDEN PLAYED A ROLE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLAYED A ROLE.

THIS STARTS AND ENDS WITH MIKE DEWINE AND HOUSTON.

WELL DONE, GENTLEMAN.

>> LET'S JUST TAKE THE ENERGY RENEWABLE COMMITMENT.

100% FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

PRESUMABLY IN LINCOLN COUNTY.

>> WE'RE GO HAVING TO TO TALK TO THE LAND OWNERS IN LINCOLN COUNTY.

AND I'M SURE AT THE RIGHT PRICE, ANY OF THE FARMERS WOULD THE LAND SITTING THERE IDLE, WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE THE OFFER -- >> BUT THEY COULD VETO.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS A WIN, WIN, WIN.

AS LONG AS IT'S DONE RIGHT WR WE'RE GOING TO HARM THE ENVIRONMENT AND WE CAN HELP INTEL GROW AND TRANSFORM THE STATE OF OHIO.

>> WHAT ABOUT THIS INTERSTHAT -- INTRASTATE -- THE CLEVELAND AREA.

NOT REALLY PICKING ON COLUMBUS.

BASICALLY TELLING CLEVELAND YOU GOT TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER TO COMPETE FOR THESE JOBS.

IS THIS JEALOUSY ANYTHING TO LOOK AT OR JUST PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM IN OHIO?

>> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM NATIONALLY.

THERE WERE SHARED MM FROM OUT IN OREGON WHERE INTEL HAS A PRESENCE.

THEY DID NOT PLAN THIS MAJOR FACILITY.

THEY'RE ALL LUMENTING IT AS WELL.

>> THERE'S CURRENTLY SOME OF THAT.

COLUMBUS, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE MOST WELL OFF PART OF THE STATE.

THE MOST WELL OFF ISN'T THE WELL OFF AREAS.

BE OOG TECH CORRIDOR IS MUCH MORE THAN A CHERRY.

SO, EVERYONE IS LIKE WHERE'S OURS, WHERE'S MIENL?

>> AND THAT'S GREAT.

MIKE DEWINE LANDED ONE BIG PROJECT.

AND I CAN SEE THAT BEING A CAMPAIGN.

>> AND THE SNOW PILED UP THIS WEEK, COVID CASES CONTINUE TO FALL.

THREE WEEKS AGO OHIO WAS REPORTING 25,000 NEW CASES PER DAY.

TODAY 6,000 CASES PER DAY.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN NEARLY 50%.

>> YOU'RE ---AL REMEMBER YOU'RE STILL A VERY LONG WAY FROM HAVING CASE LEVELS LIKE THOSE WE WERE SEEING IN THE LATE SPRING TO EARLY FALL.

OUR CASES PER CAPITA ARE STILL TEN TIMES WHAT IS CONSIDERED HIGH IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS THE TRANSMISSION.

>> AND SAID IF TRENDS CONTINUE, OHIOENS WILL HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH COVID AS THE PANDEMIC EVOLVED INTO AN ENDEMIC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH COVID?

>> I THINK WE ARE GETTING TO THAT POINT WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH COVID.

AND I KNOW EVERYONE'S EXHAUSTED AND THEY'RE WEARY BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING.

PEOPLE STILL ARE REFUSING THE VACCINATION AND AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED, UNMASKED, REBELLING AGAINST THE SYSTEM, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ONGOING DEBATE ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH COVID.

I'M GOING TO TRUST SCIENTISTS AND THOSE IN MEDICINE.

I DON'T DEAL WITH SCIENCE.

I DEAL WITH LAW AND POLICY.

THE EXPERTS SAY MASK UP, GET VACCINATED.

GET THAT EXTRA DOSE AND STAY INDOORS UNTIL WE GET THROUGH PIS PARTNERSHIP -- THIS.

THAT IS PROMISING DATA.

BUT WE HAVE TO TRUST THOSE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF -- LOOK AT MASK WEARING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE IS OF THAT?

ARE WE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TO WEAR MASKS?

DO YOU THINK?

>> THAT'S A TREMENDOUS QUESTION AND IT'S DEPRESSING ONE AS WELL, ISN'T IT?

WHAT DESIREE SAID IS WELL TAKEN AS FAR AS REALLY?

ALWAYS?

EVERY TIME ON AN AIRPLANE OR -- BASICALLY IN PUBLIC TO HAVE THOSE BOTHERSOME MASKS?

WHO KNOWS.

CERTAINLY IN OHIO YOU SPOKE -- LIVE WITH COVID AND IT'S ALMOST BECOME A SENSE OF LET'S MOVE ON FROM COVID AND WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS.

ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE?

CENTRAL OHIO, OUTSIDE THE COLUMBUS AREA, I THINK THALTS HAPPENED TO A LARGE DEGREE.

MY HOME AREA IN RURAL OHIO IS LIKE YEAH, THAT MASKING STUFF AND ALL THAT, THAT'S IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR BY MANY MONTHS IF IT EVER WAS IN A LARGE EXTENT.

A LOT OF OHIO HAS MOVED ON AND WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE'RE AMONG THE LEADERS IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT PER CAPITA DEATH.

WALLET HUB, WHO DOES NATIONAL STUDIES ON THE SAFEST STATES FOR COVID.

OHIO IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN TWO OTHER STATES, INDIANA AND OKLAHOMA, ODDLY ENOUGH.

IT IS REALLY SERIOUS, NATIONWIDE, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE.

>> STATE OFFICIALS ASK PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

BUT IN RECENT WEEKS OUR PER CAPITA DEATH RATE IS AT THE LONG END OF 50 STATES.

GETTING THE VACCINE HESITANCY.

DOWN RIGHT OPPOSITION TO VACCINES.

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE MORE WILLING TO LOOK AT VACCINES WITH AN OBJECTIVE EYE?

THIS SKEPTICISM OF MEDICINE AND VACCINES HERE TO STAY?

>> I THINK PEOPLE GET MEDICINE WHEN THEY NEED AND WANT IT.

THOSE THAT NEEDED THE VACCINE, HAVE GOT IT.

THOSE THAT WANTED THE BOOSTER, GOT IT AND THOSE THAT WON'T, WON'T AND NEVER WILL.

THE 33,000 DEATHS IN OHIO AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE WITH COVID.

BUT CLOSE TO 90% WERE PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 60.

A VAST MAJORITY, SUPER MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 60 HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

ARE PEOPLE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DIE OF COVID?

YES.

MARRY VILL DITCHED THEIR MASK MANDATE AND DUBLIN AS WELL.

SO, WE'RE MOVING ON.

WE NEED TO LIVE OUR LIVES.

>> GETTING TO THE NEXT ONE, IF THERE IS A NEXT ONE.

WHETHER IT'S 10 YEAR, 50 YEARS OR 100 YEARS, LIKE THE GAP BETWEEN THESE TWO PANDEMICS.

WHAT IF IT'S MORE LETHAL, MUCH MORE DEADLY?

WILL THE PUBLIC LEARN FROM THIS AND SUPPORT MANDATES, AT LEAST A BRIEF TIME, TO TRY TO KEEP A PANDEMIC LIKE THIS FROM SPREADING WIELGDLY AND KILLING A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAN THIS ONE DID?

>> I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THE REST OF MY LIFETIME THESE PANDEMICS THAT COME AROUND ONCE EVERY HUNDRED YEARS.

I PRAY WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE THIS AGAIN IN MY LIFETIME OR MY KIDS' LIFETIME BUT IF WE DO AND IT'S SERIOUS, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES, REGARDLESS IF THERE'S FATIGUE.

BUT TO SPECULATE WHAT THE NEXT PANDEMIC WILL BE, I HOPE IT'S NOT IN OUR LIFETIME.

>> RETS GET TO OUR LAST TOPIC.

THEY COLLECTED ENOUGH VALID SIGNATURES TO FORCE THE LEDGE SLACHER TO PROPOSE THEIR STATUTE.

THEY HAVE FOUR MONTHS TO APPROVE OR REJECT OR IGNORE IT.

THE GROUP CALLING ITSELF THE REGULATION TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD BASICALLY EXPAND THE SAFE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM TO ALLOW MARIJUANA FOR FUN FOR ADULTS 21 AND OVER.

DARYL ROLEENS, YOU WATCH THE LEGISLATURE.

IS THERE ANY WAY THEY'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS AS IS?

DO YOU THINK THERE'S A WAY THEY COULD STRIKE DEAL AND PASS A SIMILAR LAW THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO THIS GROUP?

>> I DON'T SEE IT PASSING AS IS WITH THE CURRENT MAKE UP OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

OHIO IS STILL A FAIRLY TRADITIONAL STATE.

WE'VE NOT BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF LEGALIZING MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND CERTAINLY RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

IS THAT ENOUGH TO PUT OVER THE THEGSHOLD.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET.

HAD YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING SOME MONEY.

RAISED $1.3 MILLION ALMOST, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILINGS.

IT'S A GROUP NOT BE TO IGNORED EITHER.

PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT IN A MIDTERM YEAR, POSSIBLY THE MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR, THAT WOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING VOTE FOR OHIO.

FIRST IN THE NATION WOULD SAY IT WON'T PASS BUT I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

>> OF COURSE MUCH OF THE MONEY RAISED HAS COME FROM GROUPS FINANCIALLY INTERESTED IN A PASSAGE OF OHIO.

YOU'RE OPPOSED TO THIS.

WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY OPPOSITION TO LEGAL POT FOR FUN?

>> WELL, LOOK I SUPPORT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF REGULATING AND PROVIDING IT.

I'VE TRAVELLED TO OTHER STATES WHERE IT IS LEGAL AND IT'S THE WILD WEST.

WE'RE HEARING BUYERS REMORSE FROM STATE LEGISLATURE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK THE T SHOULD GO TO A VOTE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD PASS THE STATE OF OHIO.

I KNOW EVERYONE THINK IT'S A FORGONE CONCOLLUSION.

OHIO IS NOT DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS.

THE REST OF OHIO FROM CINCINNATI TO TOLEDO, THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE NO.

I PREFER IT GOES TO BALLOT BECAUSE IT WILL BE DEFEATED.

>> SOUTH DAKOTA VOTED TO APPROVE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

POLLS IN OHIO HAVE BEEN PRETTY SPLIT.

IT'S NOT A SURE THING, BASED ON THE POLL SAID.

HOW DO YOU THINK THIS GOES IF IT GOES TO THE BALLOT?

>> I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OHIO TO LEAD THE WAY.

WE ARE LOSING A LOT OF MONEY AND REVENUE TO THE STATE UP NORTH AND TO OTHER COMPETING STATES.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OHIO TO PASS AND REGULATE MARIJUANA.

WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE USING IT OUTSIDE OF MEDICINAL REASONS AND PURPOSES.

SO, LET'S PASS IT, REGULATE AND GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE STATE OF OHIO AND LET'S MAKE SURE WE BANISH AND GET RID OF THE CRIMINAL RECORDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DISTRIBUTED MARIJUANA OR SMOKED MARIJUANA OR HAVE WEED TICKETS.

LET'S BE SURE WE REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE PROCESS OF THAT.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING REALLY BIG AND MAKE SURE OHIO STANDS OUT AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS A PROGRESSIVE STATE.

>> 30 SECONDS LEFT.

THAT ARGUMENT THAT THE STATE SHOULD HAVE A ROLE IN THIS AND NOT LEAVE IT COMPLETELY TO THE VOTERS SO THE STATE CAN BETTER REGULATE IT.

ANY COMMENT?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY WE DON'T NEED MORE DRUGS ON THE STREET.

HOW MANY MORE OPIOID DEATHS?

AND EVERYONE SAYS MARIJUANA IS A GATEWAY DRUG.

MY DAUGHTER'S 15.

MY SON IS NINE.

I DON'T WANT ANYONE PEDDLING MARIJUANA TO THEM.

IT'S OKAY TO NOT HAVE FREE REIGN OF ANY DRUG BECAUSE IT'S COOL ON TV.

WE NEED PUMP THE BRAKES ON THIS.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOT.

DESIREE, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> WE ARE IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND I AM REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE LITERATURE IN BOOKS THAT ARE UNFORTUNATELY BEING BANNED BY FAR RIGHT EXTREMISTS LIKE TONY MORRISON'S "BELOVED" BOOK.

SO, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CHECK OUT A BOOK, PARTICULARLY THE BLACK AMERICANS FROM OHIO AND SHARE A LITTLE HISTORY FROM YOUR NEIGHBOR.

>> I SERVED FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS AND PASSED OVER 27 LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO PROTECT THE UNBORN AND PREGNANT WOMEN.

EVERY TIME WE DO, WE HEAR DEMOCRATS SAY NO COMPANY WANTS TO COME TO OHIO.

WELL, HERE'S INTEL.

TO MY FRIENDS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THE COMPANIES WILL COME.

>> MEETING HERE MIGHT BE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE VOTED TO SENSOR CONGRESSWOMAN LIZ CHENEY AND KINZINGER OF ILLINOIS.

THEY'RE THE ONLY TWO REPUBLICANS ON THE JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION COMMITTEE.

IN TERMS OF POLITICS, WHO CARES.

MORE TROUBLING IS THEY LABELLED THE JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION AS, QUOTE, LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

NOT PATH WE WANT TO GO IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> I PREDICT FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WILL BE ASKED IF THEY AGREE IF JANUARY 6th WAS LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND THAT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THE ECONOMIC MESSAGE THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH AS WELL IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION AS WELL AS 2024.

YOU CAN CONTINUE DISCUSSION ONLINE AND WATCH EACH EPISODE AT OUR WEBSITE AT WOSU.COM.

FOR OUR CREW AND PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.