“Personal Responsibility, Accountability, and Hard Work… These were all things my Grandma Pearl instilled in me… and they are things we need to bring back to Congress.”
Former Columbus NAACP President Ruth Edmonds is a conservative civic leader with a long history of service in federal, state, and local government administrations.
Prior to entering the OH-15 Congressional District race, Ruth served as Church Relations Director with the Center for Christian Virtue, the Christian voice for public policy in Ohio. Her work awakened and strengthened pastors and the Church in Ohio in its calling to transform culture through the strategy of influencing laws and lawmakers.
Ruth has a distinguished career as a public servant leader. She has been a key aide to the administration of elected office holders; including Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo, Ohio Governor Bob Taft, and former 15th District U.S. Congresswoman Deborah Pryce. A long-time leader in the Republican Party, Ruth is an active supporter and volunteer to conservative candidate campaigns including with the Honorable Ken Blackwell for Governor of Ohio, and former U.S. President, Donald J. Trump.
A woman of faith, a disciple of Christ, Ruth is licensed and ordained minister who serves on the ministry leadership team at Columbus Christian Center. She is regularly sought out by clergy, lay ministers and others throughout the faith community for her insights on issues of justice, government politics and how to incorporate faith with politics.
Ruth’s private business and corporate experience includes public affairs coordinator at WTTE-TV 28 (now WSYX-TV6), merchandise manager and buyer with the JC Penney, a compliance paralegal, and Government Law Group specialist with Ice Miller LLP.
A native of inner-city Baltimore, Ruth was raised by her paternal grandmother, Pearl, who taught her accountability “own your stuff”, humility “never forget from whence you came”, respect for all “you may be better off, but you’re never better than anyone” and the value of education “if you’re that sick the teacher will send you home”. Those hard-working roots are what guide her daily.
Ruth was a Fellow at the Acton Institute and an Inaugural Fellow with the Club for Growth. She received a B.A. in Communications from Denison University, Paralegal certification from Capital University Law School and certificate in public and nonprofit leadership from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University.
Ruth Edmonds is the mother of two adult daughters and lives in Upper Arlington with her husband George, a local high school science teacher, former Police Officer, and former member of the Ohio Army National Guard.
