>> "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR THE "USA TODAY" OHIO NETWORKS.

OSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST, HERB ASHER, AND A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

WHEN THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE VAX A MILLION LOTTERY, 30% OF OHIO'S POPULATION WAS FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID.

NOW AT THE END OF THE LOTTERY, 44% OF THE STATE IS FULLY VACCINATED.

AFTER INITIAL SPIKE IN VACCINATIONS, IT WANED AND VACCINATION RATES FELL.

IN OTHER COUNTIES, LESS THAN A THIRD OF THEIR POPULATIONS HAVE GOTTEN THE SHOT.

>> AND SO WE HAVE COUNTIES IN OHIO THAT ARE VERY UNDERVACCINATED, SO, YES I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF OHIO THAT HAVE A VERY LOW VACCINATION RATE.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER STATES AND WHAT WE READ FROM THE EXPERTS IS THAT THOSE AREAS, THOSE POCKETS ARE VERY VULNERABLE.

>> WHAT'S THE VERDICT HERE AFTER THE FIVE WEEKS OF $1 MILLION GIVEAWAYS, EXCITEMENT LEADING UP TO THE VAX A MILLION, WHAT ARE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYING?

>> IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.

RIGHT AFTER THE MAY 12th ANNOUNCEMENT OF VAX-A-MILLION TLVGS A 33% INCREASE IN VACCINATION DEPLOYMENTS.

AGAIN, THAT TAPERED OFF, AS YOU SAID, WITH THE EXCITEMENT OVER THE PROGRAMMING WANED.

YOU KNOW, UNMEASURED IS HOW MUCH EXTRA ATTENTION AND AWARENESS WAS APPLIED TO THE NEED FOR VACCINATIONS.

THAT'S AN INTANGIBLE SIDE BENEFIT.

IT DOES SEEM THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE INTERESTED IN GETTING THESE VACCINATIONS, AND IT'S INTERESTING IN OTHER COUNTRIES THEY'RE BEGGING FOR THESE VACCINATIONS.

>> MARK, IT CREATED EXCITEMENT, CERTAINLY INITIALLY.

BUT IT TOOK AWAY FROM THE MESSAGE THAT THESE VACCINES HELP SAVE LIVES, HELP KEEP YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, HELP TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

DID THE LOTTERY TAKE AWAY FROM THAT MESSAGE IN THE LONG RUN AND DOES IT HURT THE EFFORT TO GET FOLKS VACCINATED?

>> I THINK IT WAS INVENTIVE AND INNOVATIVE.

IT SPAWNED MANY EXPERTISE AND OTHER GOVERNORS TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.

SO I THINK IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ABOUT WHO'S VACCINATED AND WHO'S NOT IS THAT WE HAVE TO ADD TO THE VACCINATED THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD COVID AND KNEW ABOUT IT AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD COVID AND NEVER KNEW ABOUT IT.

THE SCIENCE IS PRETTY CLEAR.

IF YOU HAD COVID, YOU'RE ABOUT AS IMMUNE AS YOU WOULD BE IF YOU HAD A VACCINE.

SO ALL OF THESE NUMBERS HELP US GET TO HERD IMMUNITY.

THE GOVERNOR'S RIGHT TO CONTINUALLY ENCOURAGE VACCINES IN ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE.

SOME FOLKS ARE JUST DON'T BELIEVE IN VACCINATIONS OR DON'T WANT TO GET AN UNTESTED OR UNTRIED VACCINE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS HERD IMMUNITY IS STILL RISING FOR THE FACTORS I COULD.

>> HERB ASHER, THE GROUP THAT IS LAGGING IN THE VACCINATION ACCEPTANCE, ASIDE FROM THE PHILOSOPHICAL REGIONS ARE THE AGES 13 TO 29 AS THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT IN HIS BRIEFING.

IT'S THE YOUNG FOLKS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT THEM AS BAD AS OLDER FOLKS AND YOUNGER FOLKS THINK THEY'RE INVULNERABLE.

THEY CAN'T SAY TACTIC TO GET THOSE FOLKS TO GET THE SHOT?

>> WE'VE BEEN TRYING ALL ALONG TO EDUCATE YOUNGER FOLKS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INVULNERABLE AND THEY CAN GET SERIOUS CASES.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GROUP ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS, WHETHER IT REALLY IS HERE IN OHIO OR STATES IN THE SOUTH THAT HAVE SUBSTANTIAL RURAL POPULATIONS.

AT SOME POINT, I MEAN, THERE'S REALLY A LOT AT RISK HERE WHICH YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT POSSIBLY TAKING HOLD IN THE AMERICAN POPULATION, IT'LL TAKE HOLD IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THE VACCINATION RATES ARE VERY LOW.

SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS?

WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE HERE IS THE MESSAGE REPEATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, NOT JUST BY THE GOVERNOR, WHO I THINK IS DOING A FINE JOB ON THIS, BUT BY LOCAL OFFICIALS AND LOCAL CHURCH LEADERS AND LOCAL BUSINESS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTIES OF OHIO BUT THROUGHOUT THE REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY SAYING IT'S NOT OVER YET.

PLEASE LISTEN TO ME, AND LET THEM TAKE THE LEAD IN TERMS OF IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED, DO SO.

LOOK, EVERY PERCENTAGE OR TWO OR 5% THAT YOU CAN INCREASE THAT, YOU CAN GET CLOSER TO HERD IMMUNITY.

BUT WE'RE STILL FAR AWAY FROM HERD IMMUNITY, AND SO I GET VERY NERVOUS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME VARIANTS COULD TAKE HOLD IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THE VACCINATION RATES ARE VERY LOW.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS TO JOIN IN IN ISSUING THE MESSAGE, GET VACCINATED.

YOU'RE DOING IT FOR YOURSELF, YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR FAMILY, AND THE NATION.

>> SEEMS LIKE THE FLU VACCINE EVERY YEAR.

GET THE SHOT, PREVENT THE FLU.

IT COMES DOWN TO BASICALLY TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR AND THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS SUGGESTING NOW THAT PHYSICIANS THAT HAVE CONTACT WITH FOLKS TRY TO CONVINCE THEIR PATIENTS.

IS THAT GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE?

>> THEY'VE BEEN HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEIR PATIENTS ALMOST NONSTOP.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, MARK SAID THEY'RE NOT GETTING A VACCINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN VACCINES.

BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHER THINGS.

IT'S STILL A HASSLE TO GO TAKE TIME OFF WORK, FEELING NEXT DAY YUCKY, BEING IN LINE THERE.

IT'S EASIER TO GET A VACCINE NOW THAN IT WAS BACK WHEN THE DEMAND WAS SO HIGH AND THE SUPPLY WAS SO LOW.

BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN LOCAL JOBS THAT HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO GET IT DONE.

THAT'S ONE EXCUSE.

ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY, YES, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD CORONAVIRUS AND THEY HAVE SOME IMMUNITY.

THE VACCINES ARE -- EVEN IF YOU HAD COVID, YOU SHOULD STILL GET VACCINATED.

ABOUT 50% OF OUR STATE POPULATION HAS BEEN VACCINATED, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO, YOU KNOW, 80% TO 90% IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT HERD IMMUNITY.

>> MARK, ONE WAY TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED IS TO MANDATE IT, WHETHER IT'S DONE COMPANY BY COMPANY, SCHOOL DISTRICT BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR A GOVERNMENT MANDATE, BUT THE LEGISLATURE SEEMS TO BE GOING THE OTHER WAY IN TRYING TO OUTLAW MANDATES.

THEY CAN'T SAY ROLE MANDATES SHOULD PLAY, ESPECIALLY AT A HOSPITAL WHERE THE PROFESSIONALS ARE DEALING WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE?

SHOULD THERE BE SOME KIND OF MANDATES SOMEWHERE IN THIS SYSTEM?

>> WELL, PROBABLY NOT.

IF YOU HAD ASKED AMERICANS TWO YEARS AGO WHETHER THEIR EMPLOYER COULD REQUIRE THAT EMPLOYEE TO TALK ABOUT A PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUE AND DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION, MOST OF THEM CERTAINLY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO THAT, UPWARDS OF 80% OF PEOPLE WOULD OPPOSE THAT.

BUT THE MORE PEOPLE ARE SAYING PERHAPS IT OUGHT TO BE MANDATED.

WE CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO TAKE A SHOT, OF COURSE.

YOU'D HAVE TO HOLD THEM DOWN.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT, HOPEFULLY.

YOU CAN'T ARREST THEM, ALTHOUGH I SAW THIS WEEK IN ONE OF THE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD IS ARRESTING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.

WE CERTAINLY CAN'T WITHHOLD GOVERNMENTS GIVING BENEFITS TO PEOPLE.

WHETHER THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOES IT OR NOT, YOU GOT TO GIVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR ROOM TO DO THAT.

WE ARE ENCOURAGING MORE THAN MANDATING AND YOU ARE LIKELY MORE TO GET BUY-IN BY CONVINCING THEM YOU AREN'T FORCING.

>> HERB, YOU WORKED WITH ADMINISTRATORS AT OHIO STATE.

OTHERS HAVE MANDATED DISPUTANTS FACULTY GET VACCINES BEFORE THEY RETURN TO CLASS THIS FALL.

THERE ANY WAY OHIO STATE AND DO THAT POLITICALLY AND LEGALLY?

THEY'RE NOT MANDATING IT?

>> DEPEND ON WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE DOES, BUT UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN MANDATING CERTAIN KINDS OF VACCINES, THE MENINGITIS VACCINE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

CERTAINLY SCHOOLS REQUIRE MEASLES VACCINES WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS.

IT'S NOT AN ALIEN CONCEPT.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS CASE IS EVERYTHING HAS GOTTEN SO POLITICIZED AND IT REALLY HAS GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE IT'S AT AN IDEOLOGICAL LEVEL, YOU'RE FIGHTING MY RIGHTS AND ALL THAT.

THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SO I CERTAINLY WOULD RATHER ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, AS MARK SAID, THAN FORCE THEM.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT RESPONSIBLE LEADERS NEED TO BE SAYING THAT THIS IS A CHOICE YOU MUST MAKE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BROADER SOCIETY AND YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

IF LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ENCOURAGEBLE, IF YOU WILL, THEN I THINK WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO GO ON A CRUISE SHIP, DESPITE WHAT THE GOING TO HAVE OF FLORIDA SAYS OR SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO BE IN THIS CLASS.

THIS IS MORE SERIOUS THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING.

AND THERE COULD BE A THIRD OR FOURTH SURGE IF WE DON'T GET THE VACCINATION RATES UP HIGHER.

IDEALLY LEADERSHIP WILL CONVINCE MORE PEOPLE TO DO IT.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, AS YOU SAID, MIKE, WOULD CERTAINLY BE IMPORTANT, BUT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE CHIMING IN HERE, AND THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE -- AGAIN, SAYING NO, THIS IS A MATTER OF INDIVIDUAL ZYGOTES ONE LESSON FROM THE PANDEMIC IS HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IS A PRETTY ESSENTIAL SERVICE.

WITH MANY OF US WORKING FROM HOME FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND MANY STUDENTS LEARNING FROM HOME, A GOOD INTERNET CONNECTION WAS CRITICAL.

STILL, ONLY 1 IN 10 OHIOANS LACK INTERNET BROADBAND.

THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SPEND 250 UNFOLDS EXPAND BROADBAND.

THEY WANT TO SPEND NEARLY AS MUCH WHERE THE BUDGET MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR MUNICIPALITIES.

>> IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR.

I THINK THAT MAYBE HE'S NOT CONVINCED THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS BEST SUITED TO DO THIS WORK.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE BUDGET -- THEY'RE IRONING OUT ALL THE DIFFERENCES NOW, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S A MOVING TARGET AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> MARK, THE ADVOCATES FOR LIMITING GOVERNMENT IS THEY ARGUE THAT GOVERNMENT IS AN UNFAIR COMPETITOR TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

BUT IF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WON'T GO INTO RURAL COMMUNITIES OR THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN A CITY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR BROADBAND, SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT STEP IN?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE GOVERNMENT IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO BE GIVING US OUR INTERNET.

I'VE GOT MY PHONE HERE.

I BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY THAT DOES MY TRASH PICKUP SHOULD BE MY CELL PHONE PROVIDER.

EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE BROADBAND EXPANDED, BUT THE NOTION OF CITY OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT DOING IT REQUIRES AN INVESTMENT NOT JUST INFRASTRUCTURE NOW, BUT FOR DECADES TO COME.

SOME FUTURE GOVERNING BODY MAY CHOOSE NOT TO INVEST IT, AND HERE YOU GOT YOUR WI-FI THROUGH YOUR CITY OR COUNTY, YOUR BROADBAND AND NOW IT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO YOU.

WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE AS BEST WE CAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO INNOVATE AND EXPAND.

WE DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO BE OUR CELL PHONE CARRIER.

>> HERB ASHER, THEY CAN'T SAY ROLE HERE OF GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNMENT, TO USE MARK'S METAPHOR, THEY PROVIDE WATER LINES.

IS INTERNET DIFFERENT OR IS THAT THE SAME UTILITY.

>> THE BROADER ISSUE OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THAT FOR 25, 30 YEARS.

NEWT GINGRICH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

WE'VE HAD SO MANY YEARS IN WHICH THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND/OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR COULD HAVE STEPPED UP OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR COULD HAVE GONE TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SAID HERE'S SOME IDEAS.

BUT, IN FACT, WE LEARNED THIS YEAR THAT WE STILL HAVE MANY RESIDENTS OF OHIO WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE CONNECTIVITY OR WHATEVER.

SO THE NOTION OF COMMUNITIES STEPPING UP AND DOING THIS IS ACTUALLY QUITE APPROPRIATE, ESPECIALLY IN THE ABSENCE OF THE% PRIVATE SECTOR DOING THIS.

LOOK, WHENEVER I HEAR SOMETHING GETS INTRODUCED INTO THE STATE BUDGET AT THE LAST MINUTE WITH NO HEARINGS OR WHATEVER, I WONDER WHO SLIPPED AN AMENDMENT TO WHOM AND FOR WHAT REASON?

SO I START LOOKING AT IT AS A PRIVATE SECTOR AMENDMENT DONE WHETHER BY AT&T OR ANYBODY ELSE, WHO'S TRYING TO PROTECT OUR BUSINESS INTERESTS.

AND I'M THINKING THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS INTEREST IS TO, IN FACT, BE PROACTIVE IN PROVIDING THESE KINDS OF SERVICES IN A COMPLETE AND FULL AND AFFORDABLE FASHION.

>> COULD YOU ARGUE -- AS COMMUNICATIONS -- WE STARTED AS A LUXURY AS AN POPULATION AT THIS POINT, BUT YOU COULD ARGUE THIS IS LIKE ELECTRICITY NOW, LIKE YOUR TELEPHONE, THAT IT'S NECESSARY TO DO BUSINESS, TO LEARN IN OUR CURRENT SOCIETY AND THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF REGULATION OR AT LEAST MANDATE THAT EVERYONE GET ELECTRICITY, EVERYONE GET CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET, A RELIABLE SIGNAL.

>> YEAH.

I DON'T THINK YOU'LL FIND THE PEOPLE WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO RUN THEIR CELL PHONE COVERAGE.

EVEN IF WE WERE TO PERMIT THIS, IRONICALLY, THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE THEIR OWN BROADBAND SERVICES ARE THE WEALTHIER SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES, NOT POOR RURAL TOWNSHIPS THAT CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY COVERAGE.

AND SO MOVEMENT BEHIND THIS BROADBAND EXPANSION IS REALLY FROM WEALTHIER PLACES LIKE HUDSON, OHIO, FOR EXAMPLE, IS ONE PLACE THAT HAS IT.

THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO DO I.

THERE MAY BE FEDERAL MONEY AVAILABLE.

SOME OF THE PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE BROADBAND HAVE TROUBLE WITH BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE ROADS.

THEY'RE STILL DEALING WITH DIRT AND GRAVEL ROADS IN THESE TOWNSHIPS.

SO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS THE BETTER WAY.

WE AGREE WE SHOULD HAVE IT, WE JUST DISAGREE ON THE BEST WAY TO GET IT.

>> THE MONEY THAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED, THE $250 MILLION, $190 MILLION IN THE HOUSE BUDGET, WAS THAT FOR TARGET TO GO EXPAND BROADBAND FOR FOLKS WHO COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE GRANT PROGRAM YOU COULD APPLY FOR AND CARRY OUT THEIR PROJECTS.

THE MAIN THING WITH THIS GETTING BROADBAND TO UNDERSERVED AREAS IS LIKE MARKS SAYS, IT'S AN AREAS WHERE THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR RENT.

A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE LAST MILE.

IT IS IN LESS THAN DENSELY POPULATED NEIGHBORHOODS OR AREAS, SO IT'S LESS ATTRACTIVE FOR PRIVATE INTEREST TO SAVE MONEY, BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE OUT, AND THEN WHEN WE CAPTURE -- SUBSCRIBERS.

>> WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT IT MUCH, BUT CENTRAL OHIO IS STILL SHORT A CONGRESSMAN.

IN A WEEK VOTERS WILL START CASTING EARLY PRIMARY BALLOTS TO START THE PROCESS OF ELECTING HIS REPLACEMENT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING, 11 OF THEM.

HERE THEY ARE.

THE BIGGER NAMES ARE STATE SENATORS STEPHANIE KUNZITE.

BUT FORMER COAL LOBBYIST HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF DONALD TRUMP.

ONLY TWO DEMOCRATS, RUSSO FROM ARLINGTON FACES RETIRED ARMY OFFICER GREG BETS.

WE MISSED ONE CANDIDATE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A WEBSITE OR PICTURE, SO WE COULDN'T FIND HIM.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THAT MANY IN A PRIMARY THIS LATE IN THE PROCESS?

>> PRIMARILY.

BUT WHENEVER A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT OPENS UP, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT OFTEN, YOU KNOW.

PEOPLE OFTENTIMES SAY WHY DO I TAKE MY CHARGES I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, MAYBE I CAN MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF EVEN IF I DON'T WIN.

HOW DO VOTERS MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION IN THIS RACE?

THIS IS A QUESTION YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO ASK ABOUT DONALD TRUMP'S IMPACT.

IF MIKE CARRIE HAD DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND HE'S ABLE TO ADVERTISE THAT, THAT MIGHT GET HIM TO THE 35% VOTE HE WOULD NEED.

>> MARK WEAVER, HE HAS THE DONALD TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

STEVE STIVERS HAAS ENDORSED REPRESENTATIVE LA MAY.

SO WHICH ENDORSEMENT MEANS THE MOST?

>> I DISAGREE THAT THESE THINGS ARE UNUSUAL.

THERE'S BEEN CROWDED PRIMARIES WHEN JOHN BOEHNER STEPPED DOWN THERE WAS A CROWDED PRIMARY FOR HIS SEAT.

SO WHEN THERE'S AN OPEN SEAT IN CONGRESS, PEOPLE RUSH TO RUN.

MIKE CARRIE, WHO HAS DONALD TRUMP, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I DON'T THINK THOSE PEOPLE REALLY CARE WHAT STEVE STIVERS RECOMMENDS TO THEM.

IN A CROWDED PRIMARY LIKE THIS, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED WHO MAKES IT THROUGH THE END BECAUSE WHAT YOU SOMETIMES SEE IS PEOPLE THE ONLY GUY 22% OR 23% OF THE VOTE.

>> USUALLY THE CANDIDATE FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY FROM COLUMBUS HAS AN ADVANTAGE.

STEVE STIVERS HAS THE ADVANTAGE.

HE'S FROM THE COLUMBUS AREA JUST OUTSIDE.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE, DOESN'T SEEM, IN THIS ONE.

A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE DISTRICT WHO ARE STRONG CANDIDATES HERE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING RACE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ANGLES, LIKE TRUMP GIVING THE ENDORSEMENT TO CARRIE.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CARRY SOME WEIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT BOB PETERSON IS WELL-KNOWN.

THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT STRETCHES FROM UPPER ARLINGTON TO DENTON COUNTY.

SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE DISTRICT AS WELL.

>> ALICE RUSSO IS FROM UPPER ARLINGTON, SEEMS TO BE THE FAVORITE.

SHE'S KNOWN VOTE-GETTER.

DO YOU SEE HER GETTING UPSET IN THIS PRIMARY?

>> NO.

>> DOES SHE HAVE A CHANCE IN THE GENERAL?

>> DEPENDS ON WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DO TO EACH OTHER AND WHO THEY WIND UP WITH BEING THE NOMINEE AND IF THEY WIND UP GETTING SOMEBODY WHO WINS WITH 22% OF THE VOTE AND IT'S NOT ONE OF THE MORE SUBSTANTIAL PEOPLE, MAYBE SHE COULD WIN.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A REPUBLICAN DISTRICT AND REPUBLICANS WILL BE FAVORED.

BUT PART OF HER FATE WILL DEPEND ON WHAT THE REPUBLICANS OFFER UP AS A CANDIDATE.

>> FINAL TOPIC, THE HOUSE SUPREME COURT RULED IF TEACHERS ARE GOING TO CARRY GUNS IN THE CLASSROOM, THEY SHOULD BE TRAINED ON HOW TO USE THEM, 700 HOURS OF TRAINING.

THEY STRUCK A POLICY THAT SAID TEACHERS NEEDED ONLY 24 HOURS OF TRAINING TO HAVE A GUN IN THE CLASSROOM.

THE MADISON LOCAL SCHOOLS PUT THE POLICY IN PLACE AFTER SCHOOL SHOOTING THERE WOUNDED TWO STUDENTS.

THE SUPREME COURT RULED STATE LAW REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TRAIN THEIR ARMED TEACHERS AS THEY WOULD ARMED POLICE OFFICERS.

MARK, YOU WORKED WITH A LOT OF THEY SUPPORTED MORE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS.

DOES THIS MAKE SENSE TO YOU, THIS RULING?

>> WELL, IT WAS AN INTERESTING LOOK AT THIS TOPICAL SUBJECT IN OHIO.

THREE TAKEAWAYS.

NUMBER ONE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN CHANGE THIS SIMPLY BY PASSING A LAW AND IT WILL NEGATE WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID.

THERE'S A BIG RURAL VERSUS URBAN DIVIDE ON THIS ISSUE.

REAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE THIS IDEA OF ALLOWING TRAINED TEACHERS IF THEY CHOOSE TO TO CARRY CONCEALED.

URBAN DISTRICTS TEND NOT TO.

THE THIRD POINT WAS THERE'S GOING TO BE A BATTLE FOR CHIEF JUSTICE NEXT YEAR IN THE PRIMARY BETWEEN SHARON KENNEDY IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING PROPERLY TRAINED TEACHERS TO CARRY.

JENNIFER BREWER, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO RUN FOR CHIEF JUSTICE AS WELL.

I THINK WE SAW A PREVIEW OF WHAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE IN THE CHIEF JUSTICE ELECTION.

>> I THOUGHT POLITICS DIDN'T ENTER THE SUPREME COURT.

THE PARENTS IN THE DISTRICTS ARE THE ONES WHO CHALLENGED THE POLICY OF NO TRAINING.

IT WASN'T UNANIMOUS.

>> AS MARK SAYS, THE ASSEMBLY CAN CHANGE AND NEGATE THE RULING BY JUST THE CHANGING LAW.

WE EXPECT THAT THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN PRETTY SOON.

>> HERB ASHER, WERE YOU EVER PACKING WHEN YOU WERE A TEACHER AND IS IT A GOOD IDEA?

>> THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE TO AND I REALIZED I SHOULDN'T BE CARRYING.

>> WHAT'S THE SOLUTION HERE, HERB?

DO YOU THINK SAFETY IS A CONCERN OF THESE FOLKS?

SHOULD THERE BE POLICE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS?

>> LOOK, WE WANT TEACHERS TO BE TRAINED.

WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE COMING INTO THE CLASSROOM WHO REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE A GUN OR DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE A SAFETY LOCK OR WHATEVER.

IT'S REALLY THE QUESTION ARE THERE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE COULD REALLY HAVE THAT YOU DON'T GO DUNE LEGISLATIVE ROUTE OR START MANDATING SPECIFICS.

JUST GET THE MOTION THAT THERE'S TRAINING.

EVERYONE WILL AGREE NOBODY SHOULD BE GOING INTO THE CLASSROOM WITHOUT TRAINING.

OF COURSE TEACHERS SHOULD BE TRAINED AND TEACHERS SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO CARRY IF THEY DON'T WANT TO.

THIS BECOMES SUCH A HIGH-VISIBILITY ISSUE, BUT IT'S COMMON SENSE THAT HAS TO BE APPLIED HERE ALSO.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR OFF THE RECORD.

FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

MARK, YOU'RE UP FIRST.

>> ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT, I TRAVELED ARCHED THE COUNTRY IN 1994 ADVISING GOVERNOR CANDIDATES AND SENATE CANDIDATES.

THE TOP ISSUE IS CRIME EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

IT HELPED MAKE A REPUBLICAN SWEEP THAT YEAR.

WE SEE CRIME CREEP UP ON THE POLLING ISSUES OF AMERICANS, OHIOANS, EVEN PEOPLE IN CENTRAL OHIO.

I SUSPECT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TOP ISSUE AND IT WILL AFFECT THE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.

>> HERB ASHER, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> ALONG THOSE LINES, TWO THINGS REALLY QUICKLY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN UNDERSTANDS WHAT MARK JUST SAID, AND INDEED NOW IS TRYING TO PUT THE DEMOCRATS BEHIND THE MANTRA OF SUPPORT THE POLICE AND REFORM THE POLICE.

AND I THINK THAT MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE DELIVERED TO THE COLUMBUS FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE AND TO THE LEADERS OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL.

>> LAURA BISHOP, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> TWO THINGS, ONE, SHOUT OUT TO MY NEW COLLEAGUES HERE WHO ARE ON JOINING OUR TEAM.

I WANT TO TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE STORY I HAD ABOUT ECOT AND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SUSPECTED BY THE FBI FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE BACK IN 2019.

SO THAT INDICATES THERE'S A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION ON ECOT.

THERE'S AN OPEN ONE AND WHERE IS THERE'S THE HOUSE ONE.

>> YEP.

SCANDALS ARE THERE.

MY PREDICTION, NORTH CAROLINA INSTITUTED THEIR VACCINE LOTTERY AFTER OHIO DID, THEY WERE AFTER US.

I PREDICTED 100 YEARS FROM NOW THEY WILL SAY FIRST IN VACCINE LET THE RECORD SO REFLECT LIKE THEY SAY THEIR FIRST IN FLIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS ARE FROM DENTON.

GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

FROM OUR CREW AND PANEL, I'M MARK MARK.

-- MARK THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.