COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine’s pick for Ohio’s next Health Department director withdrew her name just hours after DeWine announced that she’d be the successor to Dr. Amy Acton, citing the harassment Acton suffered.
DeWine’s office said in a tweet Thursday night that Dr. Joan Duwve withdrew her name from consideration for the position for personal reasons.
This evening, Dr. Joan Duwve withdrew her name from consideration for the position of Director of the Ohio Department of Health, citing personal reasons. The Governor's administration will continue its search for a full-time Director of the Ohio Department of Health.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) September 11, 2020
Duwve says she learned Acton’s family was harassed so she decided not to take the new job.
The state will continue its search for a full-time replacement for Acton, who resigned abruptly in June amidst a torrent of conservative criticism including armed protesters outside her suburban Columbus house.
Duwve is an Ohio native who most recently served as public health director for South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control but now says she is leaving that job.
Ohio reported 1,121 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 Thursday for a total of 134,086 with 4,354 deaths and 18,531 currently active cases.
Madison and Union counties in central Ohio downgraded to Level 1, designated by the color yellow on the state’s four-tiered Public Health Advisory System (see map).