Acton lands Ohio firefighters endorsement, pitches affordability agenda in governor’s race
Former state health director targets housing, health care costs and data center expansion in gubernatorial bid
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WXIX) - Dr. Amy Acton secured the endorsement of Ohio firefighters this week as she advances her campaign for governor, centering her bid on what she calls an “affordability” agenda shaped by more than two years of conversations with Ohioans.
Acton, the former state health director, said the concerns she has heard from residents across the state point to a shared set of priorities.
“And 95% of what people talk about, no one disagrees on,” Acton said. “They are longing for public servants again who actually solve problems and make our life affordable. They’re talking about housing, rent... health care costs.”
[Ramaswamy pitches zero income tax, job growth in Ohio governor’s race]
Affordability and debt relief
Acton said middle-class families are struggling under the weight of medical debt, citing one local mother facing $300,000 in medical bills. Her proposals include renegotiating medical debt for “pennies on the dollar” and curbing property taxes to help seniors remain in their homes.
Data centers and energy
Acton is also calling for a conditional moratorium on the rapid expansion of data centers in Ohio, arguing that companies must supply their own energy and site facilities on brownfields or former industrial land rather than farmland.
“I want to make sure that these companies are bringing their own energy. ‘BYOE’ is how I’ve been saying it,” Acton said. “We want to make sure that if you’re going to try to do business here, you’re doing it in a brownfield or an old industrial site instead of in our prime and ever-shrinking farmland.”
COVID-19 response and Householder scandal
Acton also addressed her role leading Ohio’s early COVID-19 response alongside Gov. Mike DeWine, defending her decision to step down from that position.
“I actually stood up. When you saw me stepping down, it was because I wouldn’t sign orders that were coming from the Speaker of the House, Larry Householder,” Acton said. “I have a Hippocratic oath, you know, to do no harm.”
Householder was arrested two weeks after Acton’s departure in what has been described as the largest corruption scandal in Ohio history. He is currently serving time in federal prison. Acton later received the Profile in Courage Award for her actions during that period.
Campaign outlook
The Youngstown native said she is prepared for a competitive race and drew a contrast with what she described as outside influence in state government.
“I will always put our needs over the wants of billionaires and out-of-state interests who have corrupted our state house,” Acton said. “I’m a scrappy kid from Youngstown. I’m not afraid of a fight.”
On social issues, including transgender sports legislation, Acton said she would defer to settled state law and keep her focus on property taxes and energy costs.
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