Chaplain Campaigns for Cobb Commission on Diverse, United Community

Ruth Negron, former assistant to past District 4 Commissioner Annette Kesting, said she is running for the South Cobb commissioner seat because she has the experience and passion to unite the area.

"This new generation, this time, right here, this moment...we can make positive changes," Negron told South Cobb Patch.

After four years of assisting Kesting, Negron said she has the expertise of resolving community issues.

"The constituents are my best proof of what they received," she said.

Negron, a clergywoman, has split much of her life between Puerto Rico and Georgia.

She was born a U.S. citizen and thinks Cobb is ready to have a Latina sitting in county leadership who will work to knit together Cobb’s long-time families with newer migrants who have recent roots in Latin America.

“There’s an equality among constituents,” she emphasized, “but I’m bringing that focus – the Hispanic community.”

Negron moved to Cobb nearly 19 years ago when her husband Juan got a call to ministry. She had been raised in New York City, and after that spent 11 years in Puerto Rico – where she absorbed the culture and language and also went to college.

She worked as an accountant and business administrator in several places. She also was one of the founding members of the Cobb County Hispanic-Latino Initiative in 2007.

She has three children, ranging in age from 28 to 18, and a 3-year-old granddaughter. Now she’s a full-time clergywoman and administrator at she and Juan’s church, Iglesia Cristo Reina.

“Marrying a pastor is like being the president’s wife,” Negron laughed. “It’s a job.”

Once in office, Negron said "uniting the people" of South Cobb will be one of her top priorities.

"Unity brings change. Unity brings victory, and in unity, we have power. I believe we've got to go back to our roots and unite the resources we have in South Cobb. We have a unique, diverse people," she said.

Their parishioners come from the United States and at least 13 Latin American countries.

Negron says there is a cultural and linguistic barrier around Latinos in Cobb County. She says she will work to bring Latinos into the political process and also help Cobb understand their new neighbors, many of whom are legal immigrants or like Negron herself, a U.S. citizen by birth.

This is Negron’s first run for office. Her first disclosure of campaign contributions is due to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission on July 9.

"Up to now, I really have enjoyed and feel peace where I live. I want to conserve where I live. I've raised my kids here. I believe I could stay here another 20 to 30 years. That's why we need to get active," she explained.

"We have a good place. We just need to care for it and plan for it, and who better than those who live here?"

South Cobb is facing various challenges, Negron explained, and many have had a nonchalant attitude in addressing them.

"It's going to get better. I think everyone has laid back and let things happen. We need to take back control."

She faces five other Democrats including incumbent Woody Thompson in the July 31 primary. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two will go to an Aug. 21 runoff.

There are no Republicans in the contest.

Patch is profiling each of the Cobb County Commission District 4 candidates this week.