LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton spoke Monday night at the Allen County Democratic Party’s “Dinner for Democracy.”
In her speech, Acton shared her life story, describing how she overcame childhood obstacles on her journey to becoming a doctor. She also reflected on her time as director of the Ohio Department of Health, where she initially led the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acton told the audience that her personal and professional experiences inspired her decision to run for Ohio governor against Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
“I'm not a politician, but I am a lifelong public servant… and I can tell you that I just can't look the other way when I think bad actors and special interests keep taking our state backwards. What people are talking about everywhere I go in this state, and I go everywhere: they're talking about costs; they're talking about affordability, yes groceries, yes gas; but they're talking about childcare; being able to afford a house or being able to age in place with dignity. I'm running for governor because people are exhausted of this chaos and hate habitually. They just want to see good people back in there solving the problems," says Dr. Amy Acton, Ohio Governor Democratic Candidate.
Also speaking at the event were Democratic candidates for Ohio Secretary of State, Dr. Bryan Hambley and Dr. Allison Russo. Both candidates discussed their motivations for entering the race.
"I worked on the anti-gerrymandering initiative in 2024, and unfortunately, we had a Secretary of State who used their power to write dishonest and confusing ballot language. I don't think that should be the place of the Secretary of State, and I think we should re-run that initiative but with clear, honest ballot language," says Dr. Bryan Hambley, Ohio Secretary of State Democratic Candidate.
"I am a state representative in the Ohio General Assembly. I have watched anti-voter legislation be pushed by the super majority and the Statehouse and making it more difficult for Ohioans to fully exercise their right to vote or to feel like they could trust the language that is in front of them on ballot issues, and so, that really inspired me," says Dr. Allison Russo, Ohio Secretary of State Democratic Candidate.
On the Republican side, State Treasurer Robert Sprague and veteran Marcell Strbich have declared their candidacies for Secretary of State.
