ATHENS, Ohio — Athens City Council has advanced a resolution responding to a controversial political advertisement that was recently released by a candidate in the race to become Ohio’s next governor.
The council’s Committee of the Whole discussed Resolution R-08-26, “Condemning the Exploitation of Childhood Sexual Abuse for Political Gain and Reaffirming Athens’ Commitment to Civility, Equity, Human Dignity, and Responsible Public Discourse,” at its meeting Oct. 26.
Written by council member Alan Swank, 4th Ward, the resolution addresses a political advertisement released a week prior by Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign team.
Ramaswamy’s ad features Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of his opponent, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. In the advertisement, Arthur attempts to discredit her daughter, calling her a “liar” and casting doubt on the childhood sexual abuse Acton says she endured.
Acton was 12 years old in 1978 when her biological father reported to authorities that her stepfather, Cledith “Bud” Arthur, had sexually abused her. Arthur was arrested and charged with rape and fled from authorities after a Mahoning County grand jury indicted him the same year. He evaded capture for decades and died a fugitive in 2004, having never stood trial for the charges.
The Ramaswamy campaign spent $4 million on the ad, which continues to air despite receiving widespread criticism, including from Gov. Mike DeWine and others within the Republican Party.
Written by council member Alan Swank, 4th Ward, the Athens council’s two-page resolution requires one reading, and is set to pass Monday, Nov. 2.
One section reads, “…the deliberate use of intimate family trauma to discredit a political opponent is incompatible with the standards of decency, empathy, and responsible civic engagement that public officials and candidates for public office ought to uphold, regardless of their political party, ideology, or policy positions.”
Another section says “the pursuit of electoral victory [does not] excuse conduct that degrades the humanity of those involved.”
Council member Beth Clodfelter, At Large, said she applauded Swank for writing the resolution and said its wording denounces exploitation of child sexual trauma for political gain, regardless of political affiliation.
“I like that it’s so non-partisan, but it’s such a charged election climate, I wonder if we could be accused of partisanship if we pass it,” she said.
Swank said Section V of the resolution addresses partisanship, which states that the resolutions are about campaign conduct and public responsibilities that accompany the pursuit of elected office.
The resolution also states, “It does not endorse or oppose any political party, candidate, or platform. Council will apply the same standard to any candidate, official, party, or organization that exploits personal trauma or encourages the degradation of vulnerable people for political gain.”
Clodfelter, however, said since the resolution appears to address one political ad in particular, accusations of partisanship may follow.
Swank noted that the council has passed other resolutions taking a position on moral grounds, including Resolution R-10-20 that declared racism a public health crisis, and more recently, Resolution R-06-26, promoting respectful interactions and shared responsibility.
The public has a right to weigh in by supporting, or not supporting such positions, Swank said.
Michael Wood, 3rd Ward, called R-08-26 a strong, well-written resolution.
“If someone thinks that condemning people using child sexual abuse as an item is partisan, I don’t know what to tell you,” Wood said.
Mayor Steve Patterson said he strongly applauded the council taking a position with their resolution, calling the Ramaswamy campaign ad “unconscionable.”
“There’s a huge difference between campaigning on policy and resorting to personal attacks and lies,” Patterson said. “Vivek Ramaswamy’s despicable attack on Amy Acton is exactly the kind of politics that I wish my daughters never had to witness.”
The resolution will be voted on at the Athens City Council meeting next week.
Athens City Council’s next meeting will be held 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2 at Athens City Hall, Council Chambers, third floor, 8 E. Washington St. Meetings are also streamed online. Regular sessions are on the first and third Mondays of the month; committee meetings are on the second and fourth Mondays.
