♪ ♪ WELCOME BACK.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

THE LEAD STORE WHERE I, A BUM BUY ROAD FOR THE COMMISSION.

ON THE OTR PANEL, SERGIO MARTINEZ BELTRAN, SHANA ROTH AND BILL BELL LEN GER, SIT WITH US AS GET THE INSIDE OUT, OFF THE RECORD.

♪ BILL BALLENGER LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN'S ROAD TO TOP 10.COM.

AND NOW, THIS EDITION OF "OFF THE RECORD" WITH TIM SKUBICK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELCOME BACK TO OFF THE RECORD.

NICE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US HERE IN STUDIO C STILL ZOOMING PROBABLY WILL BE FOR QUITE AWHILE.

HANGING AROUND RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT PANEL WE HAVE.

LET'S STARTED WITH YOU.

THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION MOVE ALONG, SINGING A SONG, THIS WEEK, THEY RAN TON THE RACE ISSUE.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> SO THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS AMONG THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE DETROIT AREA, THE DRAFTS OF THE MAPS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF, DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICTS MAPPED OUT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT IT IS -- YOU KNOW, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THESE ARE STILL MAPS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT IS STILL A LONG WAY, LONG WAYS TO GO BEFORE WE GET ALL THE MAPS FAMIZED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE.

THIS IS AN AREA, ACTUALLY, THAT SERGIO HAS BEEN DOING A TON OF WORK AT.

HE HAS BEEN AT THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS MANY, MANY TIMES, SO WILL THROW IT TO HIM.

HE HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND REPORTING TO THIS.

>> THIS IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD?

IS THIS A MAJOR PROBLEM?

>> UM, I THINK, IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.

I MEAN, YOU ARE HEARING A LOT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS COMING OUT AND SAYING THAT THE MAPS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS DRAWN ARE NOT -- WOULD ACTUALLY FURTHER ALLUDE THE VOTES OF THESE MINORITY GROUPS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THAT.

YOU KNOW?

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 17 CONGRESSIONAL STATE, HOUSE, SENATE DISTRICTS, THAT ARE MAJORITY-MINORITY.

CURRENTLY, THE MAP THAT'S THE COMMISSION AVE DRAWN, THEY HAVE DISTRICTS THAT ARE MAJORITY AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR EVEN MAJORITY HISPANIC IN THE CASE OF ONE DISTRICT BUT THEY DON'T GO OVER THE 51% THRESHOLD SO IT WOULD BE A 46% OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN DISTRICT AND WHILE AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS ARE SAYING, THAT NUMBER NEEDS TO GO UP, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THE CANDIDATE OF REFERENCE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS CAN GET ELECTED.

THEREIN LICE THE PROBLEM MR. BALLENGER, SOME HAVE SAID THE LEGAL COUNCIL IT IS 40%.

THAT 10% IS HUGE!

>> YEAH.

IT IS ASTOUNDING WE HAVE HAVING THIS DEBATE NOW.

ANYONE WHO HAS LOOKED AT THE PROCESS OVER THE LAST FOUR DECADES THE NORM HAS BEEN THAT MICHIGAN WOULD HAVE TWO NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS BY THE WAY.

MAJORITY MINORITY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

IT IS 50% PLUS ONE.

NOW ALL OF THE SUDDEN.

THE LEGAL COUNCIL TOLL THIS PENT COMMISSION SAYING, NO, YOU DON'T NEED THAT.

YOU ONLY NEED 40%.

MINORITY POPULATION AND DIGS STRICT AND THEY HAVE COME UP WITH A MAP SO FAR, THAT HAS NO MAJORITY MINORITY POPULATION OVER 50%.

NONE.

NONE.

FROM TWO DOWN TO NONE.

CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW.

THAT ANYTHING LIKE THIS GOES INTO EFFECT, IT IS RIGHT FOR MULTIPLE LAW US?

>> THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THIS IS GOING TO BE DECIDE IN COURT.

I CANNOT BELIEVE ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD THIS.

THINGS WILL DOM A HEAD WITH THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WHERE ELSE BUT DETROIT.

OK.

THEY ARE GOING TO SHOW UP IN MASS AND SEND A MESSAGE TO COMMISSION.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE RIGHT.

THESE ARE ONLY DRAFT MAPS OK.

THEY ARE TENTATIVE PROPOSALS.

WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO BEFORE WE HAVE SOON THE FINAL PRODUCT, RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

WE DO.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME.

THERE IS TIGHT TIMELINES HERE.

THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO GET THIS DONE AND TAKEN CARE OF FARLEY QUICKLY.

EVERYTHING IS SPELLED OUT IN THE CONSTITUTION AS FAR AS THE MAPS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DRAWN ALONG WITH THE TIMELINES.

AND I MEAN, IS LOOKING TRUCKIE THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE REALIZING PARTICULARLY DEMOCRATS WHO ARE HOPING THAT THESE NEW LINES ARE WERE GOING TO COMPLETELY RESHAPE MICHIGAN'S DISTRICTS IN THEIR FAVOR.

I THINK THEY ARE REALIZING THAT TISCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

NOW HE, THE CONSTITUTION CALLS FOR FAIR LINES NOW EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOES FAIR MEAN SH YEAH.

GOOD POINT.

GOOD POINT.

ALL RIGHT.

TURN THE PAGE.

GOVERNOR RICK SNYDER HAD A PROBLEM WITH WATER.

GOVERNOR WHITMER HAS ONE.

HERE WE GO.

LED IN THE WATER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> SHE DOES.

>> YEAH.

>> YES.

SHE DOES.

I THINK IT IS LIKE, WELL, FASCINATING HERE, TIM, IT IS SO, YOU KNOW, IT SHOWS GOVERNOR WHITMER DOESN'T HAVE THE BEST TRACK RECORD IN BENTON HARBOR.

IT WAS IN 2019 THE GOVERNOR HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT CREATED A LOT OF CONTROVERSY NOW TWO YEARS LATER, SHE IS BACK, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS WATER CRISIS, WHERE YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE KNOW IS THE ADMINISTRATION KNEW FOR TWO YEARS, THAT THE LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION IN THE WATER WERE PRETTY HIGH, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC OR COME CONTINUITY MEMBERS THERE ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

WELL, THE QUESTION IS, BILL, HAS THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO THE LED IN THE WATER IN BENTON HARBOR BEEN TARDY OR ON POINT?

THE HEALTH DIRECTOR SAID THE OTHER DAY, WE TOLD PEOPLE TO USE WATER FILTERS, BUT WE REASSESSED THAT, AND SAID MAYBE THAT IS NOT WORKING.

NOW WE GOT TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP TO GET EVERYBODY OFF THE WATER TON BOTTLED WATER.

RESPONSE TIMELY OR NOT?

>> WELL, TIM, WHAT GUESS AROUND, COMES AROUND.

AS YOU KNOW, GRETCHEN WHITMER WAS A HARSH CRITIC OF FORMER RICK SNYDER WHEN WAS GOVERNOR IN THE FLINT WATER CRISIS DEVELOPED NOW IT IS COMING BACK TO BITE HER AND HON LIST, AS YOU GET IN THE SITUATION, TIM, NOTHING THE GOVERNOR DOES IS EVER GOING TO BE SATISFACTORY TO THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN INJURED AND GRIEVED BY THE WATER CRISIS IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT IS FLINT OR BENTON HARBOR, SO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS -- AS FAR AS THE MOST VOCAL CRITICS IN BENTON HARBOR ARE CONCERNED?

NO.

THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT BEEN TIMELY.

SHE IS NOT ON POINT YET.

SHE IS FLOPPING.

SHE IS NOT DOING WELL.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE CAN STRUGGLE OUT FROM UNDER THIS, AND HERE IS THE BIG QUESTION, TIM, WAS ANYONE OUTSIDE OF BENTON HARBOR REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS AS AN ISSUE?

IS THIS A BIG DEAL NEXT YEAR OR NOT.

>> WELL, WHICH BE FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WHOMEVER THAT PERSON IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, WON'T IT?

>> IT WILL.

I MEAN, BUT H HERE IS THE THING, WE CAN CRITICIZE THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE.

WE CAN CRITICIZE GOVERNOR RICK SYNDER'S RESPONSE.

THE BIGGER ISSUE THAT IS IT IS LIKELY THAT EVERY GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN WATER CRISIS.

UNLESS WE ACTUALLY TAKE A SERIOUS STAB AT FIXING OUR STATE'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

BENTON HARBOR IS NOTES THE ONLY COME-TI LED PIPES.

ARE MANY COMMUNITIES WITH LED PIPES THAT ARE VERY LIKELY CRUMBLING.

THERE IS PROBABLY ISSUES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES WE ARE NOT MADE AWARE OF YET.

SO UNLESS THE LEDGE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR, REALLY GET THEIR ARMS AROUND FIXING AND CHANGING ALL OF THE LED PIPES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING.

IT IS GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING.

EVERY GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WELL THIS UNLESS THEY ARE ALL REPLACED.

>> THE INTERESTING ABOUT THIS STORY IS EVEN PRIOR TO BEFORE MISS WHITMER DIME THE OFFICE, THE DEQ ISSUED WARNING OR STATEMENTS ABOUT THE LED IN THE HE WATER OVER THERE SO THE GOVERNOR'S CRITICS ARE GOING TO SAY NOW THREE YEARS LAUT ARE YOU ARE FINALLY TALKING ABOUT BOTTLED WATTER WHAT?

DO YOU MAKE OF THAT CRIT.

YEAH.

THINK, IT IS A FAIR CRITICISM.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT SHE MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, THE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE, IF NOT, THE NEXT GOVERNOR, WHOEVER THAT, IF IT IS GOVERNOR WHITMER OR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THEN THE CRITICISM WOULD BE THE SAME.

YOU KNEW ALREADY, FOUR YEARS AGO, THE BENTON HARBOR HAPPENED SHALL THOSE RESIDENTS WERE HURTING, AND YOU DOESN'T DRESS THAT SITUATION.

IT IS GOING TO BE ONGOING SITUATION UNLESS WE ADDRESS THE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE KNOW IS MUCH NEEDED IN THE HE STATE.

>> THANK FOR THE NEXT SEGUE TO THE NEXT ADDITION WE WILL TALK ABOUT.

BILL, WE FIND OUT THIS WEEK THE REPUBLICAN AND THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TWO D'S, TWO R'S HAVE A TURNED A BRD AGREEMENT ON THE POINT MADE HERE ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE THE BULK OF THE MONEY SHOULD GO INTO INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE IS NO SURPRISE THERE, IS THERE?

>> THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY SURPRISE.

AS THEY JUST SAID, OBVIOUSLY, INFRASTRUCTURE IS A HUGE LOOMING PROBLEM IN THE PROBLEM IN THE STATE, AND IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS, AND NOW, IT LASTS BECAUSE IRONICALLY, OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS, THIS MONEY HAS COME POURING IN FROM WASHINGTON, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH IT?

FOR GOD'S SAKE.

FIX THE DAMN ROADS THEN A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

BRIDGES AND DAMNS AND PIPES AND, YOU KNOW, IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE.

THEY GOT TO GET IT DONE.

THINK EVERYBODY REALIZES THAT.

A WELL, HERE WILL BE THE FUN PART.

NOW THEY HAVE AGREEMENT THAT THE BULK OF THE MACHINE HI SHOULD GO INTO STRAINING TURE HOW MUCH WILL EACH BUCKET GET AND WILL BE THE GAME IN TIME, RIGHT?

>> IT WILL BE.

AND I HAVE A FEELING BASED ON, YOU KNOW, SORT OF PAST EXPERIENCE, LIKE GIVEN THE GOVERNOR'S BIG THING WAS TO FIX THE ROADS, THAT MAY BE NOT A WHOM LOT OF THEM.

AT LEAST ENOUGH OF THE MONEY GOING TO THE ROADS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE WILLING TO GIVE HER THAT WIN RIGHT BEFORE SHE HE IS REELECTED I GOT ALL OF THIS MONEY.

I AM GOING TO FIX THE RODS LIKE I PROMISED THEN I THINK, FOR MICHIGAN ANDERS THE IMPORTANT THING IS THERE IS GOING TO BE MONEY GOING TOWARD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS OUR STATE NEEDS NOW.

WHERE THAT MONEY GOES?

THAT IS GOING TO END UP BEING THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS, AND IF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR CAN SORT THAT OUT, I THINK, THAT WOULD BE THE BEST FOREVER.

>> SO IF YOU WERE A BETTING MAN WHO US GOING TO GET THE MOST MONEY?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T BET.

I DON'T LIKE TO BET.

THERE OW.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

I DO THINK, THOUGH.

THAT WHAT IS GOING TO BE.

THIS CAN BE SIGNIFICANT.

THIS MONEY BECAUSE IT IS WITH WHATEVER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THEY ARE GETTING IT COULD, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT OF THIS MONEY CAN ACTUALLY BE SIGNIFICANT AND I THINK, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE USED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS I HAVE HEARD REPUBLICANS CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE MONEY COULD GO TO FIX BRIDGES AND DAMS BUT NOT SURE IT IS GOING TO FIX THE ROADS.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE MAJORITY HERE MR. BALL LENGER.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT.

WHEN TALK ABOUT BRIDGES AND DAMS, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH.

LET'S BE SERIOUS HERE.

PIPES FOR THAT MATTER, TOO.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LED POISONING.

FIX THE DAMN ROADS SOUNDS GREAT AND EVERYBODY WANTS GREAT ROADS BUT I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE THINK THE QUALITY OF THE DRIVE EXPERIENCE ON ROADS IS QUITE AS IMPORTANT AS LIFE AND DEATH.

SO I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE PUSHING ON THE IN CENTER STRUCTURE SIDE AND GOVERNOR WHITMER IS GOING TO BE PUSHING ON THE FIX THE DAMN ROADS SIDE.

>> LET'S PUSH IN NOW AND BRING IN OUR GUEST A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR FROM THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WELCOME.

NICE TO WORK WITH THIS YOU MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CHECK OFF BOXES.

YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED?

>> I HAVE, YES.

>> WILL YOU VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN?

>> I AM -- I AM GOING TO WAIT TO VACCINATE MY CHILDREN.

I AM GOING TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE VACCINATIONS DO IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

FOR ME, YOU TALKED TO DOCTORS, SEVERAL DOCTORS ABOUT THIS, THEY HAVE SAID, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT THEY SEE AS AN EMERGENCY FOR CHILDREN.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE FD TOO EVEN APPROVE VACCINATION FOR CHILDREN.

WE NOW SEE THEY ARE LACKING AT IT FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN.

THAT IS SOMETHING MY DOCTOR, MY DOCTOR FRIENDS HAVE SIDE ME, LOOK, THE CHILDREN ARE NOT IN A RY SIS.

THE CHILDREN ARE NOT DIEING FROM.

THEY HAVE LOW LEVELS FROM THE VIRUS.

THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY SPREADING THE VIES , SO FOR ME, IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR MY KIDS RIGHT NOW.

>> ARE YOU MASKING WHEREVER YOU GO?

>> NO.

>> NO MASK AT ALL?

>> NO.

NO MASK UNLESS I AM REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY, THAT I GO TO VISIT TO MASK THEN, NO I AM NOT WARRING A MASK IF THE RESTAURANT IS NOT REQUIRING IT.

OF COURSE, AS I FLY, IF I AM IN THE AIRPORT.

IF THERE IS A REQUIREMENT BY THAT PRIVATE BUSINESS TO WEAR MASS BE, THEN I RESPECT WHAT THE PRIVATE BUSINESS DOES.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T FEEL THAT IT IS NECESSARY FOR ME TO WEAR MASK.

IN FACT, WE WERE TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY THE CDR, BY THE FDA, THAT IF YOU GOT VACCINATED, THEY DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS ANY REASON TO WEAR MASK NOW OBVIOUSLY, THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO HAS COME OUT TO SAID, WE THINK YOU SHOULD CONSIDER CONTINUE TO WEAR MASK.

THISEAS YOU DON'T POLITICIZE A VIRUS LIKE THIS.

BECAUSE I WAS JUST WITH A FRIEND, WHO SHE HAS SEVERAL FRIENDS IN FLORIDA, VERY, VERY MUCH ON THE SIDE OF PRO VACCINE, PRO MASKING, THEY HAVE NOT ONLY ALL RECEIVED THE VACCINE, THEY WILL NOT ALLOW FRIENDS OVER IF THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE VACCINE, AND NOW THEY HAVE GONE ONE STEP FURTHER BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CAME OUT AND SAID, EVERYBODY SHOULD GET A BOOSTER SHOT BEFORE THE CDC SAID ANYTHING, BEFORE THE FDA WEIGHED IN, THESE FOLKS IN THEIR 20'S-36 THEY WENT FROM PHARMACY TO PHARMACY AND THEY ENDED UP GETTING A THIRD SHOT, AND THEN THE FDA CAME OUT AND SAID, WE DON'T APPROVE A THIRD SHOT FOR PEOPLE UNDER 65 IF YOU ARE NOT IN A HIGH RISK SITUATION.

SO NOW YOU HAVE POLITICIZED A VIRUS AND PUT PEOPLE AT RISK BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING A MEDICAL DECISION BASED ON WHAT A POLITICIAN HAS COME OUT AND SAID, BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR ACTUAL MEDICAL AGENCIES WEIGH IN AND NOW THEY HAVE WEIGHED IN AND SAID, THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.

I WAS TOLD, YOU GET A VACCINE, YOU DON'T NEED A MASK.

I BELIEVED IT.

THE MASKS DON'T HELP.

WE SAW IT IN SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN WERE NOT MASKED LAST YEAR.

THEY DIDN'T SPREAD THE VIRUS.

>> SO MOVING ASIDE FROM COVID, FOR A MINUTE, ON YOUR WEBSITE, ONE OF YOUR POINTS IS THAT "SHE KNOWS THAT STARTS WITH LIBERATING MICHIGANDERSS FROM LOCKDOWNS, GET STUDENTS BACK TOLE COULD, MEN AND WOMEN BACK TO WORK."

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO LOCKDOWNS.

ALL SCHOOLS ARE OPEN FOR IN-STUDENT LEARNING.

THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS BELOW THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

CAN YOU MASK PLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT?

BY THIS PROMISE?

>> OBVIOUSLY, I THINK WE ARE ALL CLEAR, WE WERE LOCKED DOWN.

WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THIS GOVERNOR HAS CHOSEN NOT TO LOCK US DOWN AS CASE INCREASE.

NOBODY IN THIS STATE WANTS TO GO BACK TO LOCKDOWNS.

WE SAW OTHER STATES THAT STAYED OPEN.

RESUCCESSFULLY STAYED OPEN AND THEIR ECONOMY HAS THRIVED.

NOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT COULD ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF GRETCHEN WHITMER BE?

WE KNOW WHY SHE IS NOT LOCKING DOWN NOW?

BECAUSE THAT IS A POLITICAL DECISION.

WITH ITS A POLITICAL DECISION IN THE BEGINNING TO LOCKDOWN.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXECUTIVE OF THE STATE SAID, LISTEN, I STAYED IN MY LANE.

MY LANE IS VERY SMALL LANE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THIS DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO LOCKDOWN THE STATE.

THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY, THE OTHER LANES ARE ONLY POLITICAL LANES IN THAT DISCUSSION.

SO OBVIOUSLY, THE DECISIONS TO LOCKDOWN THE STATE WERE POLITICAL.

WE HAVE THEN LOOK AT ANOTHER FOUR YEAR OF GRETCHEN WHITMER WHEN NOT LOOKING AT ELECTION AND SAY WE WILL NEVER LOCK DOWN THIS STATE AGAIN AND DESTROY OUR CHY.

ECONOMY.

>> A FOLLOW-UP?

>> NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BILL, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> WELL, I LIKE TO ASK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.

I MEAN, TRADITIONALLY, YOU GET COUNTY CHAIRMAN, DISTRICT CHAIRMAN, YOU GET PROMINENT ENDORSEMENTS FROM PEOPLE, THAT IS THE WAY THESE CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN RUN.

ARE YOU DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

IF NOT, I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF A CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION YOU HAVE BUILT?

WELL, YOU GOT ALMOST A DOZEN OPPONENTS IN THIS CASE AS A TOTEDDAL FREE-FOR-ALL AT THIS POINT.

HOW DO YOU MAKE FLOODS HOW DO YOU DIFFER YOURSELFLE FROM THE OTHER CANDIDATES?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A DYNAMIC TEAM.

WE HAVE A MICHIGAN-BASED TEAM.

WE HAVE A TEAM THAT WORKED ON THE RON DESANTIS AND RICK SCOTT CAMPAIGN, SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT GROUND GAME THEY DID IN FLORIDA TO TAKE A STATE FROM BEING TURNING BLUE TO BEING A PRETTY STRONG RED STATE.

SO WE ARE ALSO MEETING STATE.

ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, SITTING DOWN WITH COUNTY CHAIRS, THOSE FOLKS RIGHT NOW IN MANY CASES ARE MAKE THEIR DEACISION.

WE ARE STILL EARLY ON IN THE CAMPAIGN, SO ITS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE OUT ON THE GROUND TALKING TO THOSE PEOPLE BUT WE ARE ALSO GETTING NATION AGO ENDORSEMENTS.

WE HAVE AMBASSADOR NOW WHO ENDORSED US.

WE HAVE THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION WHO HAS ENDORSED US AND CONTINUE TO SEEK ENDORSEMENTS ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL.

>> WELL A FOLLOW-UP?

>> YEAH.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE MAKING PROGRESS BECAUSE YOU'RE NENTS.

I MEAN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT JAPES CRAIG.

THEY HEAR ABOUT SAL DANO.

YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU STAND NOW WITH ALL OF THOSE OTHER CANDIDATES?

>> WE ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.

WE HAVE THERE HUGE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT ON THE GROUND.

WE ARE GOING OUT AND SPEAK.

EVERY TIME, EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE GO OUT AND SPEAK ON THE GROUND, WE HAVE PEOPLE COME UP TO US AND SAY WE ARE SOD SO GLAD YOU CAME.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WE WERE VOTING BEFORE BECAUSE THERE IS ARRAY OF FOLKS ACROSS THIS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, BUT HEARING YOU SPEAK TODAY, WE BELIEVE IN YOUR MESSAGE.

WE BELIEVE IN YOUR MESSAGE FOR EDUCATION.

WE BELIEVE IN YOUR MESSAGE FOR WORKFORCE.

WE BELIEVE IN YOUR MESSAGE FOR BRINGING BUSINESSES TO MICHIGAN.

WE VERY A STRONG PLAN.

PEOPLE SEE THIS.

GOVERNOR WHITMER: MR. BELL TRAIN.

YES, YOU JUST SAID, A FEW MINUTES AGO, THAT YOU DON'T THINK MASK WORKS, BUT YOU SAY YOU ARE VACCINATED.

AS FOY, MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE DECIDED NOT GET THE VACCINE, THEY ARE STILL FEARFUL OF THE VACCINE.

MANY OF THEM ARE REPUBLICANS.

SO SOMEONE WHO IS VACCINATED AND WHO IS CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, HOW, HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE OTHER REPUBLICANS TO GET VACCINATED?

HOW DO YOU GET THE NUMBER OUT?

>> I DON'T TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEIR MEDICAL DECISION SHOULD BE.

LOOK.

I AM A CANCER SURVIVOR MYSELF.

FOR ME, A MEDICAL DECISION IS A VERY PERSONAL DECISION.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THEIR RESEARCH WITH THEIR MET CALL PROFESSIONAL.

TALK TO THEM.

IT IS THE SAME WITH ANY VIRUS OR DISEASE.

FOR ME, HAVING GONE THROUGH CANCER, I WENT TO MANY DIFFERENT HOSPITALS, TALKED TO MANY DIFFERENT DOCTORS.

I GOT MANY DIFFERENT SPECIALISTS TO TELL ME, THESE ARE YOUR OPTIONS.

THIS IS WHAT WE THINK YOU SHOULD DO.

THEN I MADE MY DECISION ON WHAT I WOULD DO WITH MY SURGERY AND MY CANCER BASED ON SITTING DOWN WITH MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

S THAT MY IN AD VICE TO FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS.

IT IS A SIMILAR SITUATION.

BECAUSE IT CAN BE LIFE OR DEATH, THAT VIRUS.

MY SUGGESTION TO MY FRIENDS OR FOLKS OUT THERE WHO ARE QUESTIONING WHAT THEY SHOULD DO, GET THE ADVICE FROM MULTIPLE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

DON'T GO ON FACEBOOK OR GOOGLE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT IT OUT YOURSELF.

REALLY TRULY SIT DOWN WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS FIELD DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

ASK THEM, WHAT THEY THINK.

PUT THOSE OPINIONS TOGETHER.

MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR YOU.

BASED ON WHAT YOUR HEALTH IS.

BECAUSE A LOT OF US DON'T EVEN REALIZE IF WE HAVE AN UNDERLYING CONDITION.

I WAS SPEAKING TO E.R.

DOCTOR ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY.

HE SEES THIS EVERY DAY.

HE IS SEEING YOUNGER PATIENTS COME IN.

I SAID, WELL, YOU ARE SEEING YOUNGER PATIENCE COME IN, HOW DO YOU TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNGER AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THEY HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS?

WHY ARE YOU SEEING THIS HAPPEN WHERE YOUNGER PATIENTS ARE GETTING MORE, SICKER THAN WE ARE EXPECTING.

THEN HE SAID, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THEY ARE THEIR BM IS HIGH.

THEY ARE CONCERN CONSIDERED OBESE BECAUSE WE THINK, WELL, WE ARE THAT THINK.

WE DO THINGS.

BUT IN A LOT OF CASES UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY ARE SITTING DOWN WITH YOUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND SAILING, HEY, GO THROUGH MY HEALTH.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK MY ISSUES ARE AND WHETHER OR NOT I NEED TO GET THIS VACCINE THAT IS THEIR DECISION.

I AM NEVER GOING TO TELL SOMEBODY, THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

WE HAVE A MANDATE.

YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.

THIS IS A MEDICAL DECISION FOR YOU.

BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE IN THEIR BODY.

THEIR DOCTOR AND THEY CAN MAKE THAT DECISION THE BEST.

>> FOLLOW-UP.

SEEMS LIKE EVERY REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE, EVERY REPUBLICAN WANTS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

LAST TIME WE TACKED YOU SAID THAT WE WERE WORK ON IT.

STRUCK AD TO PRESIDENT TRUMP?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SECURE IT?

>> YOU KNOW?

THE PRESIDENT IS A MAN OF -- WE ALL KNOW HE IS INTERESTING MAN, WHO IS SOMEBODY WHO WILL DO HIS OWN THING.

OF COURSE, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSE.

WE HAVE MET IN THE PAST.

I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE PRESIDENT AND TALK MORE ABOUT MY CAMPAIGN.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING MIN MY.

I KNOW HE HAS WEIGHED IN ON OTHER CAMPAIGNS HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WILL WEIGH IN ON THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

IF HE DOES, I WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE HIS EN IN DORS.

>> DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT LEADERS HAVE TILTED THIS THING FAVOR OF ONE CANDIDATE OVER YOU?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK SO.

BECAUSE I SEE, I MEAN, I HAVE SEEN WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE FOLKS THAT FEEL THAT WAY.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, WE HAVE THE COUNTY LEADERS, THE COUNTY GOP LEADERS, THEY HAVE A LOT OF PULL IN THEIR OWN COUNTIES, SO I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO, I GUESS, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THEY ARE ESTABLISHMENT LEADERS.

THEY ARE THE GRASS ROOTS LEADERS ON THE GROUND, AND THEY ARE THE ONES THROUGHOUT TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING, THAT ARE GOING OUT VOTING, I THINK IT IS FORN SAY.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE IN THAT CAMPAIGN AS WELL.

>> LET'S GO THOUGH CHASE HERE.

WE REGOING TO DO OVERTIME BECAUSE WE ARE SCRATCHING THE SURFACE HERE.

DO YOU THINK RON WANTS JAMES CRAIGING TO THE GET NOMINATION?

>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK RON THAT.

>> WELL, AREN'T YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

HAS HE SHOWN UP AT ONE OF YOUR EVENTS?

>> HE HAS NOT.

NO.

HE HAS NOT.

I THINK HE HAS SHOWN UP AT COUPLE OF MR. CRAIG'S EVENTS.

WELL, THAT WOULD INDICATE, HE IS SUPPORTING THE CHIEF.

BUT YOU KNOW, I AM NOT 100% WAY THE STATE GOES.

I GIS AM NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU KNOW NOBODY TRYING TO GET I A WAY YOU FROM WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE IS?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT TIME FOR ONE QUESTION BEFORE WE DO OT, PLEASE.

ACTUALLY.

I DO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP.

LIKE TO KIND OF AND SO, YOU MENTIONED THAT NEVER DO ANY SORT OF LOCKDOWN, I MEAN, GOVERNOR WHITMER ENCOURAGED FOAM STAY HOME IN THE ARTIFICIALLY DAYS OF THE VIRUS.

SHE REQUIRED RESTAURANTS TO BE CLOSED.

SHE DID DO A LOT OF THINGS TO KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME, WHAT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO, SOB LET'S SAY GOD FORBID WITH YOUR GOVERNOR THERE IS ANOTHER VIRUS AND IT IS VERY PREVALENT AND IT IS DANGEROUS.

IT IS PERVASIVE EVEN MORE SO THAN COVID.

ARE THERE STEPS WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TAKE TO REQUIRE PEOPLE TOLL STAY HOME?

>> WE TALKED IN THE BEGINNING ABOUT 15 DAYS TO SLOW THIEVED.

WE SAW A LOT OF STATES WHO ADHERED CLOSER TO THAT 15 DAYS THAN MICHIGAN.

WE LEARNED QUITE A BIT FROM ONE HA THAT, WHAT THEY DN THOSE OTHER STATES.

I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF TRUST FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT THEIR EMPLOYEES HEALTH AT RISK THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO PUT THEIR CUSTOMER'S HEALTH AT RISK.

I JUN STAN AS A SMALL BUSINESS ONER IN THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUSTING OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING.

SO NO, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A TIME WHEN YOU SHUT THIS STATE DOWN AND AGAIN, WE LEARNED A LOTTED FROM THE THAT FIRST MONTH OF COVID.

WE UNDER STAN HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

WE UNDERSTARN HOW TO KEEP THINGS CLEAN AND HOW TO MAKE SURE WE DO HAVE OUTBREAK, WE CAN SHUT THAT PLACE DOESN'T AGAIN.

GREAT.

WE WILL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AT WKAR.

ORG.

GO TO WKAR.

ORG.

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY.

GREAT TOT HAVE YOU ONBOARD WE'LL CONTINUE OUR GAME RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> PRODUCTION OF OFF THE RECORD IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE FOLLOWING.

BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MICHIGAN HAS PLAN TO MAKE MICHIGAN THE TOP TEN STATE IN THE NATION FOR JOBS AND A HEALTHY ECONOMY.

LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN'S ROAD TO TOP TEN.COM.

FOR MORE OFF THE RECORD, VISIT WKAR.

ORG.

MICHIGAN PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS HAVE ON BRUTED TO COST TO OFF THE RECORD WITH TIM SKUBICK.

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