Recently on News & Talk WAOK, State representative and Democratic candidate for governor Ruwa Romman, shared her background, motivations, and campaign priorities to address Georgia’s challenges.
Romman, representing West Gwinnett including Berkeley Lake, parts of Duluth, Norcross, and Peachtree Corners, has over a decade of organizing experience in Georgia’s public and private sectors. She recently completed the NC 10 Miler, part of the Triple P series, showcasing her commitment to community engagement through events like running.
Her motivation to run for governor stems from a multitude of issues, emphasizing the need for action-oriented leadership. “We are in such an urgent moment and now is the time for fighters and not folders,” she said, stressing the importance of building a statewide movement through door-to-door conversations, inspired by her early work on the Michelle Nunn and Carter campaign. Romman’s platform focuses on raising the minimum wage, investing in small businesses, reopening hospitals, returning homes from corporate ownership, and feeding hungry children.
On hospital closures, Romman proposed expanding Medicaid, a simple bill stalled by the current governor, and leveraging Georgia’s strong bond rating to fund healthcare centers for addiction recovery and cancer research, creating tax revenue to reopen hospitals. She highlighted the economic and moral benefits of these policies, including reducing healthcare costs for small businesses.
Addressing child hunger, Romman referenced a colleague’s effort to secure $6 million for free school meals, vetoed by the governor, while $10 million was spent on Israeli bonds. “Our priorities are completely topsy turvy and they don’t make any sense,” she said, noting that hunger affects students’ learning, with recovery taking up to two days.
For wage increases and small business support, Romman advocated updating Georgia’s minimum wage, unchanged since 1997, and adjusting the tax code to favor small businesses over large corporations. She emphasized that full-time work should afford a decent living and supported Public Service Commission races to address rising utility costs.
Romman encouraged listeners to join her movement at RUA4Georgia.com, where they can volunteer for events like a canvas on Oct. 25 or donate, emphasizing a people-led campaign avoiding corporate PAC funds. The interview underscored Romman’s organizing experience and focus on wages, healthcare, education, and small business support for her gubernatorial bid.