>>> MIKE DEWINE GETS A SERIOUS PRIMARY CHALLENGE.

AND THE COVID VACCINE DEBATE TAKES AN ODD TURN.

♪♪ ♪♪ JOINING US ON COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK, STATEHOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

JEAN KRETZ FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR AND THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION.

FORMER CONGRESSMAN MACY HAS BEEN CRITICIZING GOVERNOR DEWINE ON TWITTER AND IN SELECT INTERVIEWS FOR MONTHS, HINTING AT A PRIMARY CHALLENGE.

THIS WEEK HE MADE IT OFFICIAL.

COMING OUT GUNS BLAZING WHILE THE GOVERNOR TOOK THE NEWS IN STRIDE.

>> MIKE DEWINE IS A CAREER POLITICIAN.

HE'S BEEN CAMPAIGNING SINCE THE JIMMY CARTER ERA.

HE WAS HAND PICKED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT TO BE GOVERNOR.

THE INSIDERS WHO INSTALLED HIM KNEW THE DEAL.

HE WORKS FOR THEM, NOT FOR YOU.

DEWINE'S FAILURES HAVE HURT OHIO.

>> THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, IT'S A RARE TIME THAT I DO NOT HAVE A PRIMARY OPPONENT.

THAT IS THE NATURE OF LIFE.

THAT'S THE NATURE OF POLITICS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PRIMARY.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE SHOCKING TO ANYONE SIMPLY BECAUSE VIRTUALLY THERE IS ALWAYS A PRIMARY IN THE RACES.

>> JIMMY SMITH, THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE -- PUBLICLY.

THIS DOESN'T COME AS A SURPRISE.

HE HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE QUITE SOMETIME.

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK MIKE DEWINE IS WELL KNOWN, ESTABLISHED IN THE STATE.

AND AS MACY'S AD TALKS ABOUT, THAT CAN BE FOR A POLITICIAN IF HE GETS INTO A DIVIDED PRIMARY.

BUT OBVIOUSLY MACY WANTS TO RUN TO THE RIGHT OF MIKE DEWINE WHO HAS GOTTEN SOME CRITICISM FROM THE FOLKS WHO DID NOT WANT TO WEAR MASKS, WHO FELT THAT HIS PANDEMIC RESPONSES WERE TOO AGGRESSIVE, WERE BAD FOR THE ECONOMY, SO FORTH.

I'M SURE HE'S BEEN EXPECTING IT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I THINK THAT HE IS GOING TO TAKE IT IN STRIDE PROBABLY.

HE'LL BE WELL ORGANIZED.

WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM THERE.

>> JEAN KREBS FROM WESTERN OHIO, IN THE HEART OF SORT OF THE FAR RIGHT IN DONALD TRUMP'S COUNTRY.

DOES HE HAVE A CHANCE WITH CONSERVATIVES IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS?

>> I CONSULTED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL PROMINENT REPUBLICANS HERE, AND I THINK THAT IT IS THE COUNTIES THAT HAVE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE A SORTING MECHANISM IN THIS.

THEY EXPECT MACY TO NECESSARILY WIN OUTRIGHT IN THESE COUNTIES, BUT THEY EXPECT HIM TO GET A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE VOTE.

MAYBE UP TO 40%.

SO THERE IS SOME REAL CONCERN -- THE REAL CONCERN IS THIS LAW -- THE TALKING OF THE MUD WILL LONG-TERM HURT MIKE DEWINE WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING A REALLY TOUGH PRIMARY FOR MIKE DEWINE.

WHO IS THE THIRD CANDIDATE IS A FORMER LESS WELL KNOWN.

AS HE SAID, THE GOVERNOR, WHOEVER HE FACES IN THE DEMOCRATIC RACE OR SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> ONCE UPON A TIME, I SAID, YEAH, YOU KNOW, LET'S HAVE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE OR MOST RADICAL CANDIDATE THAT THE REPUBLICANS CAN FIND SO THAT SHOULD GIVE DEMOCRATS AN ADVANTAGE.

I DON'T FEEL THAT WAY ANY MORE.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OVERALL DIRECTION OF THE STATE, THE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE STATE OF OHIO RIGHT NOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LARGER POPULATION CENTERS.

AND I THINK THAT A MORE CONSERVATIVE -- AND I HATE USING THAT WORD.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MORE TRUMPIAN CANDIDATE, AND THAT IS OF SOME CONCERN, BUT NOT CONCERN FOR EVERYBODY.

NOT JUST FOR THE DEMOCRATS OR FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> POLITICIANS OF NOTE WHO HAVE A BIG NAME AND RESOURCES TEND NOT TO GET IN RACES THEY DON'T THINK THEY CAN WIN FOR THE MOST PART.

HE THINKS HE CAN WIN.

HE WENT TO NEW YORK REPORTEDLY, MET WITH DONALD TRUMP.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE HE WOULD GO TO NEW YORK, MEET WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT WITHOUT GETTING ASSURANCES OF HIS ENDORSEMENT BEFORE HE ANNOUNCED FORMALLY HE'S GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR ON THE GOP SIDE.

>> HOWEVER, DONALD TRUMP IS THE COVETED -- IN A LOT OF RACES, WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING IN THE SENATE RACE HERE.

FROM WHAT I AM UNDERSTANDING, DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN PRETTY CRYPTIC WITH FOLKS.

HE'S NOT LAYING OUT, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO GET MY ENDORSEMENT OR PROMISING ENDORSEMENTS.

HE JUST LIKES TO BE AT THE CENTER OF ATTENTION AND BE TALKED ABOUT IN THESE RACES.

AND THAT'S KIND OF KEEPING THE TRUMP BRAND GOING MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN SOME WAYS.

>> WE'RE COMING OUST OF THE PANDEMIC.

MASK MANDATES, WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE FACES, FACES WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN OVER A YEAR.

A YEAR FROM NOW, ACTUALLY 11 MONTHS FROM NOW IS WHEN VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS.

WILL THEY HOLD MIKE DEWINE'S HAND TO THE PANDEMIC, THE HARD CORE ANTI-DEWINE FOLKS AFTER A YEAR?

>> I THINK THAT MY CONVERSATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES AROUND HERE, I'VE SEEN NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DIMINUTION OF INTENSITY OF MIKE DEWINE FROM THIS ISSUE.

>> SO THEY HAVE LONG MEMORIES?

>> I EXPECT THEM TO, UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, I EXPECT THEM TO STILL WANT TO BASICALLY -- THEY'RE THINKING GRIEVANCE.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR GRIEVANCE AND THEY WILL BE EXACTING SOME RETRIBUTION, I'M AFRAID.

>> JIM, TO YOUR POINT, MACY SORT OF FELL INTO THE SENATE RACE FOUR YEARS AGO AGAINST INCUMBENT BROWN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND SWITCHED TO THE SENATE RACE IN THE MIDSTREAM OR EARLY STREAM.

HE ONLY LOST BY SIX POINTS TO THE INCUMBENT AND A MUCH BETTER KNOWN CANDIDATE SHERROD BROWN.

>> YOU CAN HAVE CANDIDATES THAT SPEND ZERO, LITERALLY ZERO, AND STILL HAVE A DECENT SHOWING.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, SHERROD BROWN IS A KNOWN ENTITY AND A POWERFUL AND POPULAR CANDIDATE.

UNFORTUNATELY HE GETS ENOUGH OF THE VOTES ACROSS THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO GET ELECTED.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT JEAN SAID REGARDING FOLKS BEING ANGRY.

LET'S FACE IT.

THE ONLY REASON FOR THE ANGER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PERSPECTIVES AS TO WHETHER BUSINESSES SHOULD HAVE BEEN OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC OR THE MASK OR ANYTHING ELSE.

IT HAS TO DO WITH ALLEGIANCE TO DONALD J. TRUMP.

AND I'M CONCERNED AS TO HOW LONG THAT IS GOING TO GO ON.

IN OUR STATE AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.

>> YOU CAN SEE IN THE FIRST AD, CAMPAIGN, HE IS GOING TO USE THE CORRUPTION ISSUE.

THE NUCLEAR BAN, IT HANGS OVER THE STATEHOUSE.

THAT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE PERHAPS ISSUE NUMBER ONE AS WE COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC OVER THE NEXT 11 MONTHS.

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK IT'S FASCINATING AT THE STATEHOUSE, LAWMAKERS ARE STARTING TO FINALLY TALK ABOUT IT, WANTING TO GET LARRY HOUSEHOLDER EXPELLED.

THERE ISN'T YET SUPPORT FOR THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET RID OF THAT WHO WANTS TO RUN FOR ELECTION AS A REPUBLICAN.

AND CERTAINLY MIKE DEWINE HAS NOT BEEN ATTACHED TO THAT, PER SE, BUT HE DID APPOINT A CHAIRMAN WHOSE HOUSE WAS SEARCHED AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TENTACLES OF THAT THAT COULD CONTINUE TO KIND OF AFFECT THAT RACE NEXT YEAR.

>> OKAY.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS, WE'VE LEARNED THAT COVID VACCINES UP TO 95% EFFECTIVE AND HAS MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS.

OHIO LAWMAKERS LEARNED THAT THESE VACCINES CAN ALSO CONNECT YOU TO THE 5G NETWORK AND KEEP YOU FROM LOSING YOUR CAR KEYS.

>> I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THE PICTURES ALL OVER THE INTERNET OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THESE SHOTS, NOW THEY'RE MAGNETIZED.

PUT A KEY ON THEIR FOREHEAD AND STICKS.

SPOONS AND FORKS CAN STICK.

I HAVE A KEY AND A BOBBY PIN HERE.

EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE KEY STICKS TO ME.

IT STICKS TO MY NECK, TOO.

YEAH, SO, IF SOMEBODY CAN EXPLAIN THIS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

ANY QUESTIONS?

>> QUESTIONS, WE HAVE QUESTIONS.

JEAN KREBS, FIRST -- >> YES.

IT IS QUITE STEAMY.

>> PERSPIRATION COULD BE A REASON WHY THE METAL STUCK TO THAT WOMAN.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING SO BIZARRE?

>> PROBABLY NOT SINCE THE TURBOTAX BILL OF 1994.

THERE IS AN EXPERIMENT HERE ON THE FARM LIKE A VERY POWERFUL MAGNET THAT I USE TO FISH BOLTS AND NUTS WHEN I DROP THEM INSIDE IT.

SO I CHECKED ALL MY KEYS AND LIKE MOST FARMERS, I HAVE PROBABLY 80 KEYS THAT FIT NOTHING ANY MORE, AND I CAN'T TURN THEM IN THAT ONE LOCK.

I CHECKED THEM.

I HAD THREE OF THOSE KEYS THAT WERE MADE OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MAGNETIZED.

SO THIS MAKES AN INTERESTING EXERCISE IN DEMOCRACY WE SAW.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY EXTRA SPOONS AND FORKS, THOUGH.

THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THOSE.

YOU'VE SEEN THESE HEARINGS.

HAVE THEY TAKEN A TURN FOR THE BIZARRE OR IS THIS A FRINGE ELEMENT TO THESE HEARINGS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS WHAT IS THE TOPIC OF THE BILL IN QUESTION.

THE BILLS THEMSELVES ARE -- THEY'RE AIMED AT LIMITING THE USE OF VACCINES AND LIMITING THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

AS WE JUST TALKED IN THE FIRST SEGMENT, THAT'S WHAT'S BRINGING UP THESE TOPICS BECAUSE MANY, MANY OHIOANS BELIEVE A LOT OF THE MYTHS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND FALSE FACTS THAT HAVE BEEN PERPETRATED, BOTH ABOUT ELECTIONS AND ABOUT THE VIRUS.

>> THE TOPIC OF THIS BILL IS A SERIOUS ISSUE.

WE SAW THE CLIPS WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET WORLDWIDE, PEOPLE MAKING FUN OF IT.

BUT THE BILL ITSELF WOULD BAN COMPANIES REQUIRING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO GET MEDICINE -- TO GET A VACCINE.

SO HOSPITALS COULDN'T REQUIRE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO GET THE FLU SHOT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HOSPITALS CANNOT REQUIRE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO GET THE FLU SHOT WHICH WOULD POSSIBLY EXPOSE PATIENTS OR OTHERS TO THE FLU.

THIS TAKES AWAY FROM THAT.

YOU SAW THE WOMAN ON THE FAR RIGHT.

SHE SUPPORTS THIS BILL.

SHE HAD VOTE YES ON THE BILL AND SHE WAS IN DISBELIEF.

THIS TAKES AWAY FROM THE MERITS OF THE LEGISLATION.

>> WELL, JUST LIKE CONSPIRACY THEORIES TEND TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE MERITS OF ANY KIND OF LEGISLATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IN THIS PARTICULAR BILL, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IS THAT ALSO ALLOWS FOR PRIVATE PROSECUTION, FOR INDIVIDUALS IF THE STATE DOES NOT WANT TO PROTECT THE SO-CALLED RIGHTS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, ACTUALLY WOULD BE ACTIVISTS, CAN ACT INSTEAD OF THE STATE IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THAT.

I'VE ALWAYS, ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT MEASURES LIKE THAT WHICH HAVE APPEARED IN OTHER STATES AS WELL AS RECENTLY IN OHIO.

SO, YEAH, IT'S A UNIQUE THING AND IT'S A WEIRD THING, AND THE INJECTION, NO PUN INTENDED, THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES INTO OTHERWISE POTENTIALLY LIBERTARIAN ARGUMENT, I THINK IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

>> JEAN KREBS, TAKE US BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

HOW THESE FOLKS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THESE FOLKS WERE INVITED TO TESTIFY.

YOU'RE A LAW MAKER.

IF YOU SUPPORT A BILL AND YOU THINK SOMEONE CAN OFFER SOMETHING, YOU WOULD INVITE THEM TO TESTIFY.

DO YOU VET THEM AHEAD OF TIME?

DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO SPREAD CONSPIRACY THEORIES OR WAS THIS A SURPRISE?

>> I ATTEMPTED TO DO SO, TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE GOING TO BE A CREDIBLE WITNESS AND NOT COME IN WITH ANYTHING TOO FAR AFIELD.

WE HAD A LITTLE VETTING PROCESS WE WOULD DO.

WHAT THIS TELLS ME IS THAT THAT LEGISLATOR BELIEVES THIS STUFF, AND IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA THERE IS A REAL CULTURAL DIFFERENCE, I THINK, THAT MAY BE HARD FOR MANY PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND BETWEEN WHAT YOU WHO LIVE IN UPPER ARLINGTON, OR DUBLIN, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

I WAS TELLING A NEIGHBOR OF MINE THAT I'M NOW DOING YOGA THREE DAYS A WEEK TO INCREASE MY FLEXIBILITY.

SHE TOLD ME YOGA IS THE PATHWAY TO PAGANISM.

HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THAT DISCUSSION POINT WITH SOME OF THESE FOLKS?

I FRANKLY HAVE NO IDEA.

>> YES, THIS GOES TO SHOW YOU CAN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET.

WOSU.

ANYWAY, OVER THE PAST ELECTION CYCLES, THE STATEWIDE OFFICE DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESSES IN THE OHIO SUPREME COURT.

DEMOCRATS HOLD THREE OF THE SEVEN SEATS, AND NOW ONE OF THEM WANTS TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT.

JUSTICE JENNIFER HAS ANNOUNCED SHE IS RUNNING FOR CHIEF JUSTICE.

SHE WOULD SUCCEED BYRON O'CONNOR WHO MUST LEAVE BECAUSE OF AGE LIMITS.

THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL CANDIDATES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, BUT JUSTICES KENNEDY AND PAT DEWINE, THE GOVERNOR'S SON, ARE SAID TO BE CONSIDERING RUNNING.

ON THE COURT, WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE FOR HER OR A DEMOCRAT TO BE IN THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S ROLE?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LEVELS.

BY THE WAY, SHE IS A REMARKABLE CANDIDATE.

SHE IS EXTREMELY SMART.

I THINK SHE HAS A CLEAN RECORD ACROSS THE BOARD.

I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF HER A NUMBER OF TIMES.

THE ADVANTAGE IS THE CHIEF JUSTICE DOES SET MOST THE OF THE POLICY.

WE HAVE A RECENT EXAMPLE.

A YEAR AGO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, CHIEF JUSTICE MAUREEN O'CONNOR WAS ASKED WHAT SHOULD BE THE POLICY OF THE COURT OF THE STATE OF OHIO CONCERNING THE MEASURES TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC.

AND HER RESPONSE -- AND THIS WAS SIMILAR TO HER RESPONSES IN OTHER ISSUES OF THIS TYPE, WAS TO SAY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A UNIFIED SYSTEM OF COURTS IN THE STATE OF OHIO AND AS A CONSEQUENCE JUDGES ELECTED HAVE A RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR COURT ROOMS.

I HAVE A FEELING, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATEMENT OF JUSTICE AND HER ANNOUNCEMENT, THAT MAYBE SHE WAS INSPIRED BY CHIEF JUSTICE O'CONNOR'S RELUCTANCE TO ACT AND FELT THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THAT, THAT THE COURT SHOULD HAVE BEEN -- SHOULD HAVE EXHIBITED MORE LEADERSHIP ON THAT.

YES, ESTABLISHING POLICY AND CASES OF RECUSAL AND SO ON, THIS IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION THE CHIEF JUSTICE CAN CARRY OUT.

>> JEAN KREBS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF THEY LOSE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SEAT?

>> NOT MUCH, BECAUSE EVEN IF MIKE DEWINE LOSES, HE WILL STILL BE IN OFFICE FOR A LONG ENOUGH TIME PERIOD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

I WILL TELL YOU IN FULL DISCLOSURE, JENNIFER BRUNER AND KENNEDY, POSSIBLE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE ARE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF JAN AND MYSELF.

SO, I, YOU KNOW, I ADMIRE BOTH LADIES VERY, VERY MUCH, AND I WISH THEM BOTH LUCK.

KENNEDY WILL BE THE MOST LIKELY NOMINEE.

>> THE NAMES WHEN IT COMES TO THESE RACES, BECAUSE FOR NOW, ANYWAY, THERE IS NO D OR R IN THE BALLOT.

THERE IS A MOVE TO CHANGE THAT.

BUT WE HAVE THREE NAMES.

BRUNER, KENNEDY AND DEWINE ARE THE THREE LEADING CANDIDATES, SPECULATION STILL.

THOSE ARE THREE PRETTY GOOD NAMES TO HAVE ON THE BALLOT.

>> THAT WOULD MAKE IT TOUGH.

IT WOULDN'T BE SO MUCH THAT -- WALKS IN AND PICKS THE IRISH SURNAME OR THE FEMALE CANDIDATE, WHICH OFTEN DOES HAPPEN WITH COURT RACES WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTY DESIGNATION.

JENNIFER BRUNER, WELL KNOWN SECRETARY OF STATE OBVIOUSLY, SHE'S RUN FOR U.S. SENATE.

SHE'S BEEN A JUDGE ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIERS OF THE COURT.

AND NOW A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO WON BY ALMOST 11 PERCENTAGE POINTS JUST A YEAR AGO.

SO THAT IS AN AMAZING NAME.

OF COURSE, DEWINE, AS WE ALREADY TALKED, WHAT THAT NAME WILL BRING TO PAT DEWINE IS QUESTIONABLE RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE MIKE DEWINE, YOU KNOW, BEING AT THE HELM DURING THIS REALLY CONTROVERSIAL TIME.

BUT KENNEDY, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT KENNEDY?

YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE -- MOST IRISH-AMERICAN SURNAMES FOR COURT PARTICULARLY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS, BUT AT ONE POINT I THINK WE HAD AN O'CONNOR, O'DONNELL, O'NEIL AND A FEW OTHERS ON THE COURT.

THAT WOULD BE A RACE THEY WOULD HAVE TO CAMPAIGN AND, YOU KNOW, DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES.

>> WHAT COULD CHANGE IS THERE IS A LAW -- A BILL BEFORE LAWMAKERS THAT WOULD PUT THE D NEXT TO JENNIFER BRUNER'S NAME, THE R NEXT TO THE DEMOCRATS' NAME.

WHAT IS THE CONCERN ABOUT THAT?

>> HALF OF THE STATE HAS ELECTED JUDICIAL POSITIONS AND HAVE HAD HYBRIDS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH SELECTION COMMITTEES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND WHAT DOES OHIO DO?

OHIO HAS PARTISAN RACES, BUT THE CANDIDATE HIMSELF OR HERSELF CANNOT HAVE A D OR R NEXT TO IT.

I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT IT WOULD BE TO EVERYBODY'S ADVANTAGE TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE D OR THE R. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, AS JULIE HAD MENTIONED, BASICALLY WHAT IT IS, IT'S NOT THE IRISH NAME OR WHATEVER.

IT'S A NAME THAT THEY RECOGNIZE, AND WE HAVE TWO JUDGES HERE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, ONE OF THEM WAS TIM HORTON, THE OTHER ONE TAYLOR.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A NAME THAT IS RECOGNIZED, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF BEING ELECTED.

>> NO DUNKIN' DONUTS?

>> NO DUNKIN' DONUTS.

>> THE CLOUD CONTINUES TO HANG OVER THE STATEHOUSE.

THIS WEEK LAWMAKERS HAD HEARINGS ON WHETHER TO REMOVE THE FORMER SPEAKER, CENTRAL FIGURE IN THE $61 MILLION BRIBERY SCANDAL.

LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING CHANGING WHO PROSECUTES CASES OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

RIGHT NOW THE FRANKLIN COUNTY PROSECUTOR HANDLES THE STATEHOUSE CASES BECAUSE THE STATEHOUSE IS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

THE NEW BILL WOULD MOVE THOSE PROSECUTIONS TO THE LAWMAKERS' HOME COUNTY.

THE REPUBLICAN-LED MOVE COMES FIVE MONTHS AFTER A DEMOCRAT TOOK OVER THE FRANKLIN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FROM A REPUBLICAN.

JEAN KREBS, YOU POINTED THIS POSSIBILITY OUT MONTHS AGO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PLAN?

SHOULD THE HOME COUNTY PROSECUTOR FOR STATE CASES -- A FEDERAL CASE IS DIFFERENT, BUT FOR STATE CASES, SHOULD THE HOME COUNTY PROSECUTOR TAKE IT?

>> THERE IS GOING TO BE A PRACTICAL PROBLEM -- IN A COUNTY WHICH IS FOUR HOURS AWAY FROM COLUMBUS.

SO IF A LAW MAKER COMMITS A CRIME AT THE STATEHOUSE OF CORRUPTION, BRIBERY, SEXUAL ESCAPADES -- PICK SOMETHING -- THAT MEANS THAT PROSECUTOR HAS TO SHIP STAFF AND COME DOWN HERE, DO INTERVIEWS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY OVERNIGHT.

IT'S GOING TO GREATLY INCREASE THEIR COSTS AND MAKE THEM LESS LIKELY TO DO A THOROUGH ENOUGH JOB BECAUSE OF THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS.

THESE SMALL RURAL FARM COUNTIES EXPERIENCE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ALSO, I THINK, EVERY MEMBER WHO VOTES FOR -- YOU HEARD ME TALK BEFORE ABOUT GLASS CEILINGS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

ANYBODY WHO VOTES FOR THIS PROPOSAL IS GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER GLASS CEILING PLACED UPON THEM BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO WEASEL OUT OF ANY CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR VOTE ON HOUSE BILL 6.

BY THE WAY, WE'RE EXPECTING 120 TO 130 PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR LIVES AND CAREERS RUINED AS A RESULT OF HOUSE BILL 6.

>> WOW.

IS THERE A FEAR -- IS THERE A LEGITIMATE FEAR ON THE PART OF LAWMAKERS THAT THERE IS A DEMOCRAT IN CHARGE OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE?

A REPUBLICAN WAS THERE FOR TWO DECADES.

IS THERE A NEW FEAR THE NEW SHOULD OF IN TOWN WILL BE TOUGHER ON THEM?

>> I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYONE DIRECTLY ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE MY GUESS.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS VERY QUESTIONABLE, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN 60 YEARS THAT THAT OFFICE HAS PROSECUTED STATEHOUSE CRIMES.

SO WHY NOW?

RON O'BRIEN WAS JUST IN FOREVER, AND WAS EXTREMELY POWERFUL IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH BEHAVIOR AND MISS BEHAVIOR AT THE STATEHOUSE.

SO THE PARTISAN QUESTION HAS TO BE RAISED.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY WOULD DO THIS THEMSELVES -- I GUESS EITHER PEOPLE AREN'T WATCHING OR THEY WON'T UNDERSTAND IT OR IT'S TOO NUANCED.

IT DOESN'T LOOK -- IT DOESN'T PASS THE SMELL TEST.

>> O'BRIEN, >> BEFORE O'BRIEN, MICHAEL MILLER WAS IN THE OFFICE.

TRYING TO PROSECUTE FOUR HOURS AWAY, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE AS AN ATTORNEY?

>> WHEN I READ THIS, I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE.

I COULD NOT MAKE THIS UP.

SO THE REMEDY TO PROSECUTE AND TRY TO GET JUSTICE IN CORRUPTION CASES IS MORE CORRUPTION, IS TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED YOU IN YOUR COUNTY TO BE THE ONES TO DECIDE YOUR FUTURE.

IT MAY VERY WELL BE IN TODAY'S CLIMATE -- WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRUMP AND THE ENTIRE SHOW -- YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WILL BE ACQUITTED ON POLITICAL GROUNDS.

LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO HOUSEHOLDER.

HOUSEHOLDER GOT ELECTED AFTER HE GOT INDICTED.

SO I FIND IT INCREDIBLE.

AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICAN PROSECUTORS THAT WE HAVE HAD, GIVE OR TAKE IN DEFENSE, IT HAS BEEN STRAIGHTFORWARD AND HAVE STRAIGHTFORWARD PROSECUTIONS AGAINST REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT.

SO I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S THAT MUCH POLITICAL, EXCEPT IT MIGHT BE -- HIS PARTICULAR CASE, NOT BECAUSE HE'S A DEMOCRAT, BUT BECAUSE -- AND THAT MAY BE PART OF THE MOTIVATION.

>> OKAY.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

PERHAPS SOME PREDICTIONS JEAN HAD FOR THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD, AND JOE MOSS, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> MIKE, AS A FORMER HORSE TRAINER AND RIDER, I WAS MOVED BY THE STORY OF LIBERTY.

A 16-YEAR-OLD BELGIAN MAYOR THAT AFTER SIX YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE TO THE COLUMBUS POLICE UNIT, WAS LAID TO REST AFTER BATTLING RECENT ILLNESS.

HER HUMAN PARTNER RETIRED AND GAVE THE EULOGY.

>> GREAT.

JEAN KREBS?

>> DEMOCRAT WAYLY HAS PUT TOGETHER A VERY IMPRESSIVE CAMPAIGN, VERY IMPRESSIVE STAFF.

AND MY ADVICE OVER THE SHOW RIGHT NOW TO GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE IS YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR GAME UP SEVERAL NOTCHES REGARDING THE WHOLE SERIES OF ISSUES, BUT INCLUDING OUR AFOREMENTIONED DISCUSSED HOUSE BILL 6 IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET PAST DAN WAYLY.

>> OKAY.

>> I WOULD JUST SAY IN TERMS OF A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WE'RE STILL WATCHING TO SEE IF REPRESENTATIVE WARREN DAVIDSON GETS INTO THAT RACE.

YOU MENTIONED JOE GLADSTONE FROM WINCHESTER.

IF YOU LOOK AT A DIVIDED PRIMARY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, I GUESS A SECONDARY CANDIDATE DOESN'T HAVE TO WIN MORE THAN 25, MAYBE 20% OF THE VOTE AT SOME POINT.

SO IT COULD BE A CROWDED AND INTERESTING RACE.

>> YEAH.

A CONTRACTOR RECENTLY SAID HE IS ENCOURAGING HIS CREW TO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE HIS CUSTOMERS ARE ASKING ABOUT IT SO I PREDICT WE WILL SOON SEE CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS WITH THE WORDS "LICENSED, BONDED, INSURED, AND VACCINATED."

>>> THAT'S FOR THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

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FOR OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.