>>> TIM RYAN TAKES THE PLUNGE.

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JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, JEREMY PELZER, STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR CLEVELAND.COM.

KARLS BEGINNINGO FRANKLIN COUNTY AUDITOR AND HOPPER, PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST.

EVERY TWO YEARS, EVERY RACE FOR GOVERNOR OR U.S. SENATE, THE SPECULATION BUILDS.

WHERE THE CHARISMATIC CONGRESSMAN TAKE THE PLUNGE?

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE UP THIS TRADITIONALLY SAFE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AND TAKE THE CHANCE.

WILL HE RUN STATEWIDE?

EVERY YEAR THE ANSWER WAS NO BUT THIS TIME HE IS RUNNING STATEWIDE.

HE'S RUNNING TO THE SOON TO BE OPEN U.S. SENATE SEAT, SAYING HE'S THE CANDIDATE FOR THE WORKING OHIOAN.

>> IT CAN'T BE BUSINESSES VERSUS WORKERS.

THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP.

THAT PARTNERSHIP NEEDS TO BE REFINED.

I'LL WORK WITH ANYONE TO REBUILD OUR ECONOMY BUT I WILL NEVER SELL OUT OUR WORKERS.

>> LET'S HAVE AN IN DEPTH DISCUSSION ON REDEMOCRATICING IN A MOMENT BUT IT KBNT A COINCIDENCE THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME HOURS BEFORE IT BECAME OFFICIAL THAT OHIO WAS LOSING A CONGRESS SEAT AND IT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN HIS.

>> I DON'T THINK SO OBVIOUSLY.

NO BETTER THAN TIM RYAN WHAT LIES AHEAD AND THE FUTURE OF THAT.

TIM RYAN HAS REALLY LAID THE GROUND WORK TO GET THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR SENATE.

HE HAD -- HIS MAIN COMPETITORS LOOKING AT HIM, PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT THEM, BOWED OUT, AMY ABOUTIN LOOKED AT IT.

OR PEOPLE SUCH AS KEVIN BOYCE IN COLUMBUS, AND WHAT JIM MORAN LAID OUT HIS ENDORSEMENT LIST AND IT INCLUDED A LOT OF PEOPLE, BOTH AREAS, SO HE DID HIS HOME WORK AND HE IS TRYING TO CAREER THE FIELD AND GET THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR SENATE.

>> DO YOU SEE ANY OTHER CANDIDATES?

YOU SEE THEM JUMPING IN TO GIVE HIM SOME COMPETITION?

GIVE IT A SHOT?

>> I DON'T.

I DON'T KNOW THEIR THOUGHTS ANYMORE THAT YOU DO, BUT AGAIN, KEVIN.

TIM ANNOUNCED THE OTHER TWO FRIENDSHIP COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE THAT TIME FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ENDORSING RYAN.

THE MAYOR AFTER AKRON, SEVERAL OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE ENDORSING HIM.

SO TIM RYAN IS REALLY DOING THE FOOTWORK TO CLEAR AN APPEAL FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

>> YOU'RE MORE PROGRESSIVE SIDE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK TIM RYAN'S BID FOR SENATE?

DOES HE HAVE A CHANCE AS A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT IN OHIO?

>> IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A CONCERNED DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT THAT'S GOOD.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TIM RYAN COULD BE BUILD AS A PROGRESSIVE.

WE'LL SEE HOW HE CONTINUES TO ROLL OFF HIS POLICY PLATFORM AND WHAT SPECIFIC POSITIONS HE'D TAKE.

ONE THING THAT ALSO TO LAUNCH WAS WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THE DIVERSITY OF REPRESENTATION THAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR HIM TO HAVE IN THE KEY PARTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC BASE.

I HOPE THAT WILL KEEP SOME CHAMGS IN THE CAMPAIGN AS WELL.

>> HE'S COMPARED TO A SHARON BROWN TYPE DEMOCRAT, A JOE BIDEN TYPE DEMOCRAT.

JOE BIDEN LOST TO DONALD TRUMP BY EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINTS LAST YEAR.

WHERE DOES TIM RYAN -- IS HE AS SUCCESSFUL OR IS HE GOING TO BE LIKE HILLARY CLINTON AND JOE BIDEN AND NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE STATE OF OHIO?

>> TIM RYAN IS THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE -- MY PERSPECTIVE BUT THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS THE SEASON IN WHICH HE'S RUNNING.

I BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS SEE 2022 TO 2006, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WAS JANUARY 6th, THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THE RACIAL TENSIONS, THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, THE PANDEMIC, ALL OF THESE ARE VARIABLES THAT I BELIEVE MAKE FOR AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME WHERE A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE SAID THAT, IF THE -- IN THE COMING YEAR.

I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S VERY MUCH A RED CITY.

IN FACT, IN SOME PLACES IT'S MORE RED THAN IT WAS IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 2016 ELECTION.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE RIGHT.

THE OHIO OWNERS, MOST ESPECIALLY WHEN THE GENERAL ELECTION STARTS.

THAT NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ANY INDEPENDENT VOTES AND DISENFRANCHISED MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE READY FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO A HARD VARIETY FLAVOR CONSERVATIVE PROBLEM IN POLITICS.

>> GERMAN SORT OF LAID OUT THE FACTS AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS ARE COALESING BEHIND TIM RYAN.

HE BUILT A LENGTHY ENDORSEMENT LIST.

THEY SEEM TO BE ORGANIZED.

PERISH THE THOUGHT.

REPUBLICANS ARE WIDE OPEN.

A NASTY PRIMARY COULD HURT THEM.

COULD STRENGTHEN THEM AND JOY AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THEIR CANDIDATE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

CLARENCE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS IN TERMS OF STAYING ORGANIZED, THE POLITICIAN LEVEL RIGHT NOW IS SO HIGH AND THE PARTY ITSELF, ALTHOUGH VERY MUCH ALIGNED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, I BELIEVE IT'S A OF REDEFINING WHO WE WANT TO BE PROSPECTIVELY.

THIS IS TRUMP STATE WHERE THE GOP IS CONCERNED, BUT THERE ARE STILL ELEMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL APPEAL TO MODERATE VOTERS.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR REPUBLICANS, STAYING ORGANIZED FOCUSED ON -- MAKING THAT TRANSITION PROCESS WHETHER THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE CENTRAL RIGHT FOCUS ON CONSERVATIVE VALUES BUT ALSO LISTENING TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE BY DEFINITION IN THAT STATE BECAUSE -- BECOMES BONDING MATERIAL, IF YOU WILL, VERSUS WEAKNESS INTO 2016.

>> WHETHER THAT'S TIM RYAN'S DISTRICT OR SOME OTHER DISTRICT AROUND THE STATE, ONE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT BASED ON PRELIMINARY NUMBERS THIS WEEK.

JUST NOT AS MUCH AS STATES IN THE SOUTH AND IN THE WEST.

OHIO WILL GO FROM 16 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS DOWN TO 15 AND THE STATE WILL HAVE TO DRAW A NEW MAP.

THERE'S A SNAG, HOWEVER.

THE PAMDIC WILL DELAY THE FINAL CENSUS NUMBERS AND THE MAPS WON'T BE READY BEFORE A DECLINE SET BY A CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT.

THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION AGAIN.

A LOT OF LAWMAKERS SAID DUE DECLINES.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT REALLY COMPLICATED.

BUT IN A NUTSHELL, WHY DO WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION, AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT?

>> WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION TO SET THESE DECLINES IN PLACE ABOUT WHEN WE CAN -- WHEN WE SET NEW REDISTRICTING BOUNDARIES FOR THE LEGISLATURE AND FOR CONGRESS.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE DATA IN TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO BY THE TIME THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO DO IS HAVE A ONE-TIME DEAL WHERE, OK, THE LEGISLATE YOUR BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF IN A BIND.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS HE SAID EVEN BETTER WE CAN GET THIS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE WITHOUT ANY DEMOCRATIC VOTES BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE REALLY DON'T SUPPORT HIM, THE AUGUST 3rd ELECTION TO ACTUALLY PASS THIS, AND AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.

I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU IF HE DOESN'T GET THE DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT -- WE'RE KIND OF BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

>> SO JEREMY, WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

IS IT OTHER STATES HAVE GONE TO THEIR SUPREME COURT TO MOVE THE DECLINE.

THERE ARE TWO DECLINES.

ONE IN SEPTEMBER, ONE IN NOVEMBER.

THE NOVEMBER WIN IS THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

IN NOVEMBER, DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

>> WELL, I HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICIOUS THAT THIS IS GOING TO END UP IN THE COURT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.

BUT YEAH.

THE SUPREME COURT, I -- BETTER MINDS THAN I HAVE COME UP WITH WHAT PLAN B WILL BE, OR PLAN C, I GUESS, NOW.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SOLUTION TO THIS?

IS IT JUST TO PUSH BACK THE DECLINES?

PUSH BACK THE PRIMARY A COUPLE OF MONTHS LIKE WE DID IN 2020?

>> IF THERE IS AN OPTION WHETHER THE COMMISSION MAINTAINING CONTROL.

A MAP THEY COME UP WITH WHICH WOULD BE FOR A MORE LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE IS A CHANCE TO PRESERVE THE WILL OF THE VOTERS HERE, WHICH IS HAVING A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION.

MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT DISSING THEIR DUTY TO DO THIS.

I DON'T THINK THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO ENGENDER MUCH BELIEF IN THEIR ABILITY OR THE PRODUCTS OF DEMOCRATIC PROPERTY BUT -- CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP THAT ARE NONPARTISAN AND COMING UP WITH ALTERNATIVE IDEAS.

VOTERS HAVE ALREADY DECIDED ARE SOME KMILGS MAKE IT UP NOW.

>> YEAH.

WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS THEY CAN'T COME UP WITH A PLAN WHERE THEY DRAW MAPS BUT IT'S GOOD FOR TWO YEARS, MORE OR LESS.

RATHER THAN WAIT TEN YEARS.

IS THAT SORT OF A DEFAULT MECHANISM THAT SHOULD DO TO?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD COUNT THAT AS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.

IF WE USE THAT, AT THAT POINT, THINGS FURTHER, A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OR REPUBLICANS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE TIME WHEN BOTH IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS ISSUES THAT REFLECT LACK OF PUBLIC TRUST, LACK OF PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OR JUST A DISCONNECT, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE EXPERIENCES STATEWIDE, SO SHOW LEADERSHIP ON THE ISSUE.

I WOULD SAY THE POLITICS OUT OF SOMETHING AND DELIVER SOMETHING PRAGMATIC,A POLITICAL AND CONFIDENCE INDUCING.

THIS IS AN OCCASION TO THINK ABOUT THE MAP WE HAD SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT SORT OF ZIGZAGGED UP AND AROUND, OVER THROUGH A BACKYARD AND THEN UP AGAIN, ACROSS THE NEIGHBOR'S.

THIS IS A CHANCE TO ADD CONFIDENCE TO THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL.

>> THE PICTURE HERE IS GETTING LOST OVER THE DEEB OVER DISTRICTING.

>> THAT'S NOT GOOD.

OUR POPULATION INCREASED BUT NOT NEARLY AS TEXAS OR FLORIDA OR STATES OUT WEST.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

YOU'RE A YOUNG PERSON.

YOU WERE AWAY FROM COLUMBUS AND MOVED BACK.

IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO STOP LOSING CONGRESSIONAL SEATS?

BECAUSE EVERY TEN YEARS WE LOSE ONE, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL CYCLES.

>> WELL, WE CAN STOP THE POLITICAL GAMING THAT MAKES PEOPLE NOT TO LISTEN AND MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A PLACE THEY WANT TO DON'T TO INVEST THEIR TIME.

YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

LEAVE THE JERRY MAPPEDERING DISCUSSIONS, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED POLICY OR A POLITICAL TOPIC, SO IT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO WHAT KIND OF STATE ARE WE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

ARE WE GOING TO BE A STATE THAT CARES ABOUT ACTUALLY REPRESENTING PEOPLE AND MAKE IT THE BEST POSSIBLE STATE THAT IT CAN BE OR ARE WE GOING TO BE A STATE FULL OF LEADERS THAT USE THEIR PERMISSION TO MAKE THEMSELVES AND THEIR FRIENDS REICHER AT THE EXPENSE OF THE AVERAGE PERSON.

IT'S A HUGE, HUGE PROBLEM.

I DO -- I'M ECHOING, BUT I HOPE PEOPLE CAN PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS BETTER.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE LOST SEAT, IT'S SURROUNDING OHIO, THE MIDWEST, MORE OR LESS.

IT'S BEEN THE BASE LONG BEFORE OHIO DID.

THEY'RE NOT LOSING SEATS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE CAN DO?

WHAT WE SHOULD DO TO CHANGE THE WEATHER TOO MUCH, WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO SORT OF STOP THE SLIDE OF CONGRESSIONAL POWER AND BUILD THE POPULATION RATHER THAN JUST SORT OF TREAD WATER?

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE UNDERLYING ISSUE HERE IS SOMETIME -- EVEN SOMEBODY SAID THIS -- YOUNG PEOPLE.

THEY'RE NOT EITHER, A, STAYING IN OHIO, OR, B, RETURNING ONCE THEY LEAVE FOR COLLEGE OR OTHER ENDEAVORS, AND THE NEXT GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, NEXT UNITED STATES SENATOR FOR OHIO THOUGHT SHOULD BE GIVEN STRATEGICALLY -- GIVEN TO WHAT INCENTIVES ARE WE PROVIDING FOR OHIO'S POPULATION 18 AND UNDER.

WHAT INCENTIVE ARE WE PROVIDING FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO OHIO TO PLAN, TO BUILD, AND TO GROW, AND THAT REALLY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MORE STAYED IMMEANT AT WEST.

WHETHER YOU'RE IN EDUCATION, WHETHER YOU'RE IN INDUSTRY OR MAYBE YOU'RE IN POLITICS, THE FUTURE, THE FUTURE IS DECIDEDLY IN THE HANDS OF THOSE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 25.

SO THEY HAVE TO BE DEDICATED TOWARDS GETTING THE HEARTS, THE MINDS, AND THE CONFIDENCE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN OHIO AND A PLACE WHERE THEY GROW AND CONTRIBUTES LONG TERM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE DEBATE'S OVER.

THE OVERSIGHT AT THE COLUMBUS POLICE TOOK A FEW TURNS THIS WEEK.

THE FAMILY OF 16-YEAR-OLD MOO KAAYA BRYANT HAS HIRED AN ATTORNEY TO INVESTIGATE HER DEATH IN THE HANDS OF MISS.

OFFICERS SHOT BRIAN LAST WEEK AS SHE HELD A KNIFE DURING A FIGHT.

AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING THE POLUMBUS POLICE.

THE POLICE UNION SUGGESTS THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO GET POLICIES OUTSIDE OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.

THE MAYOR HAS PROMISED TO HIRE A PARIS CHIEF FROM OUTSIDE THE DIVISION.

I THINK I WAS HOPING FOR MORE INFORMATION THIS WEEK.

I THINK I WAS LISTENING FOR WHAT LED UP TO THE SHOOTING AND THE FIGHT AT HER HOME.

ARE I DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THIS TRAGEDY?

>> WELL, I'M HAPPY THAT THAT THE FAMILY HAS AN ATTORNEY AND LEARNING THAT SHE HAD BEEN IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS ABOUT IT AND ALL THAT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT'S POSITIVE THAT HER ATTORNEY IS SHINING A LIGHT HERE.

SO AT THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT, THAT SHE WAS UNDER THE CUSTODY AND THE PROTECTION OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND ALSO THIS WAS HER BEING LOST AT THE HANDS OF THE POLICE OFFICER.

ESPECIALLY THE FOSTER CARE.

IN A FOSTER HOME, THAT'S AN AREA HURTS TO MUCH AND HER AND HER LOSS OF LIFE HERE THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS PROTECTING CHILDREN AND YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS NOT WORKING.

IN ADDITION TO SOLVING THE POLICE VIOLENCE AND OTHER ISSUES.

>> THE CITY HAD AN INVESTIGATION OF ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT, JIMMY NOT A GOOD SIGN.

THESE INVESTIGATIONS CAN TAKE A LOT OF TIME, IT'S DISRUPTIVE, BUT THE MAYOR IS ASKING THEM TO COME IN.

THAT'S UNUSUAL.

>> IT'S UNUSUAL.

THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT OUR PRESIDENT OF CINCINNATI AND CLEVELAND HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST AND BOTH OF THOSE HAVE ENDED UP ANSWERING WHAT'S CALLED A CONSENT DECREE WITH THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT BASICALLY IS AN AGREEMENT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKES THESE STEPS THAT BASICALLY THAT A FEW YEARS AGO, SO THE TRAINING, BIAS, USE OF FORCE, THOSE THINGS AND SO FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THAT.

COLUMBUS HAS NEVER HAD A CONSENT TO CREATE, AT LEAST THAT I CAN REMEMBER, AND SO -- AND THE MAYOR -- SO WHILE IT IS VERY -- YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY COMMON TO REACH OUT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SAY WE NEED HELP ON THIS.

IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT OUR OWN PRESIDENT.

>> COLUMBUS HAD A CONSENT DECREE OR SOMETHING THAT WENT BACK 20, 25 YEARS AGO.

CLARENCES MINGO, DO YOU THINK THE -- IS THE MAYOR DOING AN END RUN AROUND PERHAPS STALLED CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND TRY TO GET SOME CONFESSIONS FROM THE UNION BY USING THE HAMMER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMING IN AND ISSUING A DECREE OR ISSUING AN ORDER?

>> I THINK IT'S A SIGN OF EXASPERATION.

THE MAYOR, OUR LEADERS AT CITY COUNCIL, THEY HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TASK BEFORE THEM.

OVER THE LAST YEAR ESPECIALLY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LAST SUMMER, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS RELATIVE TO THE LOSS OF SEVERAL YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU BEGIN TO SIZE UP THE VARIOUS STAKE HOLDERS THAT CITY LEADERS ARE OR BUSINESS LEADERS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND THEN EVEN -- AND BREAKING DOWN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, SUBURBAN WHITE AMERICANS, MEN, WOMEN, THE SIZE OF THE CHALLENGE IN NAVIGATING THAT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.

I THINK IT WILL BE HARD TO PLAY.

THAT DEMONSTRATE WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE SOLVING THE PROBLEM BUT ALSO SHE DREW THE CONFIDENCE OF THE VOTING PUBLIC AND THE OTHER CONSTITUENCY.

I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OPTIONS TO IMBUE CONFIDENCE AND SHOW DUE DILIGENCE AND PROBLEM SOLVING HERE.

>> IT'S A GOOD SIGN.

OUR FINAL TOPIC IS THE PANDEMIC.

NUMBERS ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

MORE AND MORE COUNTIES ARE GOING FROM RED TO ORANGE, EVEN A FEW YELLOWS THERE, MEANING THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS IS SLOWING.

FRANKLIN COUNTY HAS DROPPED FROM THE HIGHEST PURPLE LEVEL DOWN TO RED AFTER JUST ONE WEEK THERE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS WE ARE MOVING CLOSER TO GOVERNOR DEWINE'S TARGET OF 50 CASES PER 100,000 POPULATION.

WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

WE'RE AT 185 CASES PER 100,000.

OTHERS HAVE SAID WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP BY A CERTAIN DAY, I THINK JULY 1st WAS NEW YORK'S OPENING DAY.

SHOULD DEWINE SET A DATE OR STICK TO HIS WHATEVER IT IS CASES PER 100,000?

>> IF I DON'T LIKE A LINE HE WILL MAKE CERTAIN ADVANCES AND WALK BACK PREVIOUSLY IF NECESSARY.

THE ONE THING THAT I CAN TELL YOU, I AM CONFIDENCE ABOUT -- A LIGHT ON THE NATION AND MIKE DEWINE VERY MUCH MADE FOR THE TIME.

HE'S FOUND THE POLICIES, RESPECTED THE SCIENCE AND MAKE DECISIONS AND HE'S GOT REALTIME EVENTS AND THE ABILITY TO WALK BACK FROM PREVIOUSLY MADE STATEMENTS.

THEY REQUIRE THAT.

SO I THINK HE'LL BE JUST RIGHT ON THIS ISSUE AND LEADERSHIP AROUND THE PANDEMIC, PRETTY -- DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> JEREMY, THE GOVERNOR HAD SUGGESTED HE MIGHT LOOK AT OTHER THINGS.

ANY IDEA WHAT HE'S LOOKING AT?

>> HE IS PLAYING HIS CARDS PRETTY CLOSE TO HIS VEST.

HE SUGGESTED -- HE ACTUALLY SAID HE'S LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS BUT HASN'T GONE INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THOSE OPTIONS MIGHT BE, AT LEAST NOT THAT I CAN SEE.

>> YEAH.

>> WE ARE SEEING A DECREASE LIKE THIS WEEK OHIO REPORTED ABOUT, WHAT, 8,000 NEW ONES.

THAT'S THE LOWEST AMOUNT THAT OHIOANS.

29 WEEKS AGO.

THE NUMBER OF CASES IS GOING DOWN.

IT'S JUST NOT TOO QUICK TO WHAT -- BUT WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> IT HAS TO BE ENCOURAGING THAT MAYBE THIS IS THE LAST SURGE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT IS BEHIND US AND WE'RE HEADED FOR THE RIGHT DIRECTION PERMANENTLY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT LIFTING RESTRICTIONS AND PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD START CONSIDERING SOME RESTRICTIONS, AND VACCINATIONS ARE GOING UP.

IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, GETTING CREATIVE TO ENCOURAGE MORE VACCINATIONS.

OTHER STATES ARE PAYING PEOPLE CASH TO GET VACCINATED.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING CREATIVE BECAUSE OTHERWISE, AS WE KNOW, IT INCREASES THE VARIANTS AND WE COULD HAVE DIFFERENT SURGES DOWN THE LOOP AND THAT WILL HOLD ALL OF US BACK.

>> CLARENCE MINGO, QUICKLY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFFERING A TAX CREDIT OR SOMETHING?

>> YEAH.

YET.

I WOULD CONTINUE TO WELL THE SCIENCE IN LARGE MEASURE.

I THINK GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE WHAT'S EXPRESSED FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS FROM NOW, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE -- OHIOANS ARE HPING VACCINATION PROCESS AND -- OR REALLY HAD A BUNCH OF -- >> YOU GOT TO FOLLOW UP THE PARTY SHOP.

CHRIS, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> LISTEN, I CALLUP NEEDS TO BE MADE IN TWO RESPECTS.

NUMBER ONE, WILL BE DRAFTED BY THE CHICAGO BEARS LAST NIGHT.

GREAT YOUNG MAN.

A RETURN TO NORMALCY AS FAR AS COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS CONCERNED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

20 SECONDS?

>>.

>>> THERE'S BEEN A LONG ISSUE OF POLICE ISSUES.

NOT ONLY VIOLENCE BUT ALSO HARASSMENT.

IN MY OPINION TOO LITTLE TOO LATE AND TO REALLY FOCUS WE'RE GOING TO NEED ENDS TO BE AT THE FIRE LEVEL AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN.

>> JEREMY, 20 SECONDS FOR YOUR LAST THOUGHT.

>> GET READY TO START SEEING A LOT OF POLITICAL OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IN THE REPUBLICAN SENATE RACE AND OTHER RACES AS WELL, THAT THERE SEEMS -- IT GETS EARLIER AND EARLIER.

ESPECIALLY IN THE NEXT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M OFF NEXT WEEK.

I'M GOING TO BE CELEBRATING MY SON'S GRADUATING FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

CONGRATULATIONS WILLIAM.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO PAUL.

TWO GRADUATES NEXT WEEK AND EVERYONE WHO IS GRADUATING IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S IT FOR "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK.

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