Saturday, February 21 from 12-2:oo p.m. at the Kenton Elks Lodge

MEDIA RELEASE__Ohio Democratic candidates will speak directly with the voters and discuss their campaigns for office during a February 21 event hosted by the Hardin County Democratic Party.

The party’s 2026 annual Presidents’ Day luncheon will take place from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 157 E. Franklin St., Kenton, OH 43326. The event will include speakers, a meal, a 50/50 drawing, a silent auction and neighborly conversation. Tickets are $35 per person, $15 for students. Scan the QR code or visit https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hardin-county-democratic-party-1  to purchase tickets by Thu., Feb. 12, 2026. 

The keynote speaker is Dr. Amy Acton, Democratic gubernatorial candidate. Other notable speakers include Dr. Bryan Hambley, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, and Judge Marilyn Zayas, candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court. Sheila Coressel, candidate for Ohio’s 83^rd district, and Daryl Flowers, candidate for Hardin County commissioner, will also speak.

In addition to sharing why they are running and their positions on issues important to the people of Ohio, the candidates will also be available for questions from the audience. 

A pediatric doctor and an award-winning professor of maternal and child health and global public health, Amy Acton grew up in Youngstown in a family who’d worked in the steel mills. She overcame a difficult childhood that included abuse, hunger and homelessness. From waiting tables to delivering newspapers, Amy worked her way out of poverty and put herself through college and medical school. That challenging upbringing molded Amy’s values and dedicated her to lifting others. Not one to forget her roots, Amy says, “I'm running for Governor because I refuse to look away from Ohioans who are struggling while billionaires and special interests continue to take our state in the wrong direction.”

Bryan Hambley grew up on a small family farm in a tight-knit community where he saw the impact of people coming together. His parents taught him that democracy at its best is community rallying to do together what no one can do alone. As a cancer doctor, Bryan has seen how outrageous healthcare costs bankrupt families, health insurance denials delay urgent treatment, and rural hospital and nursing home closures leave communities without quality care. While Ohio’s government remains silent on these issues and a rigged and unresponsive legislature prioritizes politicians over citizens, Bryan is running because his care for his patients and his community continues past the hospital door.

Marilyn Zayas’ mother, who never finished eighth grade, taught Marilyn that hard work, education and integrity were the path to the American Dream. After a career as an IT manager at Procter & Gamble, Marilyn attended law school at the University of Cincinnati, determined to serve people during their hardest moments. As an attorney, Marilyn practiced in both the private and public sectors before building her own firm. In 2016, she was elected to the Court of Appeals. Ohio’s Chief Justice appointed Judge Zayas to sit with the Second, Sixth, Eighth, and Tenth District Courts of Appeal and later selected her to join the Ohio Supreme Court. In 2022, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association awarded her its highest judicial rating of ‘excellent.’ Judge Zayas pledges “to bring common sense, leave politics at the door, ensure fair access, and rule based solely on the law and facts.”

The mission of the Hardin County Democratic Party is to build a strong and vibrant party that works collaboratively to enhance the lives of all the people of Hardin County with an attitude of optimism, commitment to service, and devotion to fairness. We value integrity, hope, freedom, and the common good. Contact us by phone (567-250-3394) or email ([email protected]) or find us online (https://hardindemsohio.org/) or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/hcodems).