By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
On Tuesday, August 4, Ohio Democratic nominee, Dr. Amy Acton visited the Steelworkers Local 1-346 Union Hall in Toledo for a meet-and greet. Dr. Acton spoke to hundreds of supporters about her plans to build a brighter future for Ohio through policies to lower costs for Ohio families, end corruption in the Statehouse and fully fund public schools.
Introductions were given by Schuyler Beckwith, Lucas County Democratic Party chair; Kevin Dalton, president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers; Ohio State Senator Paula Hicks Hudson and Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.
“We have seen that she sees politics as service, not performance,” said Beckwith of Dr. Acton. “She will help us build a brighter future for Ohioans.”
“We have a champion in the room,” remarked Senator Hicks-Hudson. “We have someone that we know based on her past action, is the predicate and predictor of future success for the state of Ohio…The last time we had a Democratic governor was a long time ago, and since that time, the state of Ohio has been on decline. We now have a have a fighter who is fierce, who understands what it means to have a government that is by and for the people,” stated Hicks-Hudson.
“[Acton] talks about what is right, what is good, what is truthful. And that’s something that we are missing today in government. I serve in the Senate, and I know how important it is to have a balance in government, because right now, there is no balance. So the things that are happening to us, and they lie and tell us that it’s for us, we know that it isn’t true. But we do know that in Dr. Atkins, that when she speaks, she’s going to speak the truth. She’s not going to sugarcoat it. She’s going to be very clinical. She’s going to be very clear about what that message is for all of Ohioans,” continued Senator Hicks- Hudson.
“My opponent keeps saying he plans to double down on policies that will bankrupt our schools and hold all of our kids back. As governor, I’ll be working right alongside all of our educators to create the 21st century education that all of our kids deserve,” said Dr. Amy Acton, Democratic Candidate for Governor. “We’re going to fight back against the cost of corruption that we are all paying for in Ohio. This is my promise. We’re gonna make it all cost less…We’re going to be telling Mr. Ramaswamy in no uncertain terms, you cannot buy this state, you cannot buy Ohio, and you can’t buy us!” stated Dr. Acton.
Dr. Acton is currently in what is projected to be a close race for Ohio governor against Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy.
Growing up in Youngstown, in a family who’d worked in the steel mills, Amy Acton faced a difficult childhood. She overcame periods of abuse, hunger, and neglect, and even wound up living in a tent in the middle of winter. That challenging upbringing molded the values and determination that have shaped a career dedicated to lifting others.
From working as a waitress to delivering newspapers, Amy worked her way out of poverty and put herself through college and medical school to become a doctor. She experienced firsthand what so many Ohio families face today—working harder than ever and still feeling like they’re falling behind.
After medical school, she began a lifelong focus on children’s health.
Her first assignment was a pediatrics residency tackling the horrific consequences of the crack cocaine epidemic in children. She then began a residency at Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University, where she trained in pediatrics and preventive medicine. There, she created the first-ever residency rotation in child advocacy and gained a master’s degree in public health.
Dr. Acton emerged as a community leader for children’s health as the Director of Project L.O.V.E, a partnership between Columbus area hospitals and community stakeholders focused on preventive health for Columbus-area children. She also joined the faculty at Ohio State University, where she became an award-winning professor of maternal and child health and global public health.
Dr. Acton later joined the Columbus Foundation, where she led on a wide variety of community health issues, from youth homelessness to women’s health.