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Amy Acton

Amy Leigh Acton (née Stearns; born 1965 or 1966) is a physician and researcher. She worked with the Columbus Foundation before her appointment to a governmental position. She was appointed as director of the Ohio Department of Health (2019-2020) by Republican Governor Mike DeWine.

During this time, Acton became a prominent figure in Ohio's public health response. She held daily televised briefings alongside DeWine. Her role involved enforcing strict COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, including school closures, mask mandates, and limitations on gatherings, which were among the most stringent in the United States. For instance, Ohio was the first state to temporarily close restaurants when it had fewer than 40 confirmed cases, and DeWine, advised by Acton, was the first U.S. governor to close schools and limit gatherings to no more than 100 people despite only three confirmed cases at the time.

Her strict enforcement of lockdowns and mandates also sparked significant opposition. Anger over her policies led state legislators to introduce bills to limit her emergency powers. This backlash contributed to her resignation on June 11, 2020, amid the crisis. After resigning, she briefly served as a chief health advisor for DeWine's administration before leaving that role in early August 2020.

Following her resignation from government, Acton returned to work at the Columbus Foundation. On January 7, 2025, Acton announced her candidacy for the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election, filing paperwork on the same day. Provided by Wikipedia