Amy Acton's estranged mother appears in attack ad; court records contradict claims
An advertisement featuring Amy Acton's mother accuses the Ohio gubernatorial candidate of lying about her past, while court documents detail abuse allegations involving Act's stepfather and custody issues.
An online political advertisement released by a Columbus-based blogger features Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton, accusing her of fabricating details of her childhood. Arthur claims Acton "lies about her past" and disputes the candidate's statements about growing up in a tent.
Mahoning County court records obtained by the news outlet show that Acton's stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was arrested and charged with sexually abusing Acton between the ages of 10 and 12. The records also indicate that Acton's mother lost custody after the abuse allegations and that the stepfather fled the state before his death in 2004.
Acton has said she has had no contact with her mother since the court proceedings began. Her brother, Phil Stearns, confirmed that their mother lost custody and that the stepfather remained married to their mother until his death.
The ad has drawn criticism from various public figures. Former state legislator and Hamilton County Auditor Jessica Miranda described the ad as "atrocious and vile" given the circumstances. Republican state representative Mark Pukita called the ad "heinous and outrageous" and questioned the credibility of the mother making the accusations. Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development, said exploiting a person's childhood trauma is wrong, regardless of political affiliation.
Republican strategist Terry Casey noted that there is no evidence linking the ad to any specific campaign. A spokesperson for candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Connie Luck, said the ad was not directly funded by the campaign but emphasized the need for voters to be aware of Acton's alleged falsehoods. The Ramaswamy campaign later confirmed the ad was produced by its team.
Acton responded on social media, stating that her birth mother failed to protect her and accusing Ramaswamy of exploiting her personal history for political gain. She reiterated her commitment to advocating for vulnerable Ohio residents, especially children and families.
The advertisement has not been submitted for broadcast on local television stations, and it remains unclear who financed its production.