Ohio Democratic candidate for governor Dr. Amy Acton and her newly announced running mate David Pepper met with several central Ohioans to discuss affordability at a roundtable event Wednesday.
Acton, the former Ohio Department of Health director, is presumed to be the Democratic nominee running for governor and she named Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democrats, as her choice for lieutenant governor this week. Wednesday’s roundtable at Katalina’s in Bexley, where Acton lives, was their first public appearance together.
“I’m getting memes all the time now — Dr. Pepper,” Acton joked.
On a more serious note, Acton talked about Pepper’s lifelong commitment to Ohio and the skills he brings to the table as a lawyer.
“He speaks up and fights tirelessly,” Acton said. “David, as a lawyer, brings things to the table that are very unique as somebody who is going to be the worst enemy of corruption.”
Pepper spoke highly of Acton, referring to her time helping lead the state during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve greatly admired her leadership in a tough time, watched her save lives, took her marching orders, and as I’ve gotten to see her run, especially get involved, I just think she’s an incredibly deep candidate,” Pepper said.
Acton has been going around the state listening to people share their stories.
“This is part of something that matters a lot to us, hearing from folks what is really going on in their life,” she said.
Republican frontrunner Vivek Ramaswamy tapped Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate earlier this week. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who appointed Acton as ODH director in 2019, endorsed Ramaswamy on Wednesday.
Pepper said he and Acton are the change candidates.
“Both of us are outsiders to politics in different ways,” Pepper said. “The status quo of Ohio is not working for so many people. … I think most people want to see something different.”
Housing affordability was a common topic that was touched on by most of the six panelists on the roundtable.
“Affordable housing is an enormous obstacle for the people that we work with,” said Matt Heaggans, owner of Preston’s: A Burger Joint in Columbus. “We see the impacts of that on people every day and the way that it gets people off track.”
Derrick Smith, a Columbus realtor with Keller Williams, explained how about one out of every three people he works with has an older family member provide assistance to help them buy a house.
“First-time buyers are where we really need to help,” he said.
Acton experienced homelessness as a child growing up in the Youngstown area.
“I can tell you that housing is going to be a big issue for me,” she said.
Acton said she hears about the rising costs of living when traveling across the state, something she said she has experienced herself.
“I don’t live far from here and our electric bill went up $150 this summer,” she said. “… Rent is high, everything is high. Every one of our health care costs is going up right now.”
Harvest Pizzeria owner Chris Crader shared his concerns about the rising costs of goods.
“You can only raise your prices so much until you price your pizza out of affordability,” he said.
In response, Acton and Pepper took turns blaming gerrymandering.
“What happens when you have a super gerrymandered situation?” Acton asked. “Corruption takes hold and that’s absolutely what this election is going to be about.”
If a state is failing in multiple areas, something else is wrong, Pepper said.
“What’s going wrong is we have a Statehouse, it’s gerrymandered,” he said.
Ohioans are ready for change, Acton said.
“One of the reasons I’m running for governor is I just couldn’t look the other way anymore,” she said. “People are struggling. The state keeps going backwards on every measure.”
This is a crisis moment for so many communities, Pepper said.
“The issues we just heard about, broader economic issues, young people leaving, direct costs, challenges everyone faces,” he said. “In terms of stepping in, I think it’s a time for us and for so many others to get involved to try and change what is a troubling direction for a country, but especially for this state.”
This story was originally published by the Ohio Capital Journal and republished here with permission.