Pick the Greens!: Choice is on the Menu for Voters in District 57

In the kind of community that I grew up within and now live as well, there were few things more popular than having options. For instance if there was an alternative from enjoying one entrée for dinner and being able pick from a buffet, the folks I know would choose Paschal’s brunch on Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, the voters who live within District 57 also have more to select from in the election of their State Representative than just the leftovers from the Democrat’s primary barbecue. It’s healthier for you to eat more veggies and it’s certainly better for District 57 to pick the Greens!

My name is Kwabena “Cubby” Nkromo and I am running as a write-in candidate with the Green Party of Georgia to be elected State Representative “for what we have in common” as a community. I am a long standing resident of southwest Atlanta with many years of civic leadership experience and a track record community building success. As a former Chair of Neighborhood Planning Unit T (NPU-T), I strengthened this citizen’s advisory council by increasing the level of participation and developing new leaders from every day citizens who stepped forth for the first time in community service with my coaching. I was a trail blazer with the use urban agriculture for neighborhood revitalization by establishing two urban farms in the greater West End area, both of which still feed many people and provide jobs under new management. In addition to food security, I have fought for housing security by helping found the Atlanta Land Trust Collaborative when serving as NPU-T Chair and now as a member of Occupy Our Homes Atlanta.

My opponent in this race is a decent, caring veteran of the Democratic establishment named Pat Gardner. Having served in the Georgia House of Representatives for eleven years, Ms. Gardner had the opportunity to demonstrate to voters what impact her leadership could have on the communities she served. Based in the northeast neighborhood of Morningside, she was placed as an incumbent representative for communities in southwest Atlanta through the Republican orchestrated redistricting process this past year. Through no fault of her own, Ms. Gardener has been put in a position of having to understand the needs of an area of the city that is new to her and perhaps beyond her ability to respond to effectively. While I too would be learning a relatively distant part of town in the northeast when elected to office, my experience gives me a better perspective to find the common ground that allow me to work for what’s best in all of District 57 in the state house and beyond.

Our campaign has offered Ms. Gardner an opportunity to engage the issues in the newly created district and speak directly to voters in a first real debate of this election. She handily unseated her weakened rival Mr. Rashad Taylor in the Democratic primary contest due to in no small part superior cash reserves in her campaign. With money ruling the day, the voters of the district were robbed of the opportunity to have their issues vigorously examined and discussed. In the spirit of respect for the community and integrity, we call on Ms. Gardner’s campaign to accept our offer to debate 6:00pm Thursday November 1st at the Intimate Café (2001 Martin Luther King Drive Atlanta, GA 30310). Whether my opponent shows up or not, I will have a conversation with constituents about what’s best for us and how we can make a way forward together by focusing on what we have in common.

It is normal to go with what you know and take the path of least resistance by accepting what the system might present before us as inevitable. Due to the restrictive ballot access laws in Georgia, voters in District 57 will only see Pat Gardner’s name on screen when they reach the point of selecting a State Representative for themselves. However, there is another line on the ballot that reads “Write-in” and you have the choice to place my name there as a certified candidate with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office (signs to this effect will be posted in the voting area). I am Kwabena “Cubby” Nkromo and I am running in this race to help make our communities healthier and stronger. We can win, vote for your hopes and not your fears.

Patch Local Voices bloggers are members of the community who write about the issues that matter most to them. They are not paid journalists. If you have a unique viewpoint, a question or something to say, consider being a Patch Local Voices blogger. It's easy. Simply click this link and start writing.