“Why Ohio Business Leaders Are Backing Amy Acton for Governor”
Published in The Columbus Dispatch | March 31, 2026
Leadership Now Senior Advisor Richard Stoff outlines why a broad coalition of Ohio business leaders is supporting Dr. Amy Acton for governor, pointing to the state’s economic challenges and the need for leadership focused on long-term competitiveness, talent retention, and effective governance.
Stoff underscores that:
Ohio’s economic performance has lagged, with stagnant growth and increasing pressure on the state’s long-term competitiveness.
Talent remains the defining economic issue, as Ohio continues to lose population—particularly young people—and is projected to lose more than 600,000 residents over the next 30 years, threatening the future of key industries and limiting growth opportunities.
Strengthening transparency and accountability in economic development, including a top-to-bottom review of JobsOhio, is critical to ensuring the state is delivering results and expanding opportunity across regions and industries.
Issues such as healthcare, childcare, and education are not only social priorities, but core economic drivers that shape whether businesses can attract and retain talent and whether communities can thrive.
He emphasizes that business leaders are increasingly focused on the intersection of economic performance and governance, and the need for leadership that can address both in a coordinated and pragmatic way.
As Stoff writes, “For businesses to attract—and keep—talent, Ohio must be a place where families want to live.”