CANTON – In a campaign stop in Stark County, Amy Acton promised she’d fight to make life more affordable for Ohioans.
“I am running for governor because people in this state are struggling,” she said. “They are doing everything right, they are working harder than they have ever worked but there is no more breathing room.”
If elected, Acton said she’d fund public schools, support labor unions and improve access to health care.
A crowd of over 600 Acton supporters filled the Canton Memorial Civic Center on May 22 for the “Workers for Acton Rally.” The event, which was organized with the Canton Professional Educators’ Association and local labor unions, drew a crowd of mostly schoolteachers downtown.
Acton is a doctor and public health official. She’s the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor and will face Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in November.
Acton preaches support for public education to room of teachers
Acton’s message in Canton centered on affordability. She advocated to bring down costs of childcare and health care while strengthening public education and labor unions.
Policy ideas about public education particularly resonated with the crowd of teachers. Acton promised to fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan and scrutinize the state’s private school voucher program.
“I refuse to watch our educators and all our helpers in schools be attacked,” she said.
Acton slammed Republican politicians in the statehouse for failing to act on health care and affordability.
“This corrupt and broken statehouse didn’t work on any of it,” she said. “They literally worked on giving tax breaks to people that had $1 million plus.”
Acton said Ohioans can unify under common goals and popular policy.
“This isn’t about political party anymore,” she said. “This is now about extreme wealth, power, ideology, special interests and playbooks that are being shoved through our statehouses that no Ohioan would vote for.”
Acton’s message resonates with supporters in Canton
Valrie Sommerville, 54, of Massillon and a birth doula, said Acton is positioned to lower costs to help families.
“She’s bringing people together over common causes, things that affect each one of us like our groceries, our gas (prices),” Sommerville said. “Life is becoming too unaffordable in Ohio, and she’s aware of it.”
Retired teacher Kathy Michel, 75 of Jackson Township, said Acton’s message of unity was the most impactful moment from her speech.
“She can present a vision of what Ohio can be,” Michel said.
Jay Mattsson, 73, of Canton and a retired schoolteacher, said public education is the most important issue and key to the state’s future.
“It’s the foundation of what makes democracy work in America,” he said. “Well-funded public education is a necessity.”
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Governor candidate Amy Acton makes Canton stop, talks affordability
Reporting by Grace Springer, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
