The Race Is On
Dr. Terrance Ruth throws his hat in the ring.
Sure, you’ve heard of Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin. But now meet Terrance Ruth, PhD. Poised to take aim at the office of mayor as the first opponent to challenge incumbent Baldwin, Ruth—a 37-year-old NC State lecturer in the School of Social Work—plans to revitalize and unify our great city. As executive director of the Justice Love Foundation (a group of community change-makers seeking social justice—aka justice and love) and proud family man to wife Kiara and first-grader son Miles, Ruth pledges to “embrace all of Raleigh with optimism about its future.” In his effort to be fair and transparent—and put “people first over self-interest or politics”—Ruth intends to work cohesively with the community to “ give everyone a voice in how we operate our city.” While no doubt the race promises to heat up as more candidates compete for our primary seat (two years ago, six candidates fought for your vote to reign as elected head of Raleigh), for now, let’s get to know more about mayoral candidate Ruth.
10 Things to Know About Dr. Terrance Ruth
By: Lauren Kruchten
Incumbent Mary-Ann Baldwin has a new opponent in the race for Raleigh’s next mayor this year. Dr. Terrance Ruth, an NC State lecturer and former executive director of the NC NAACP, threw his hat in the ring in January with the goal to restore, rebuild and unite Raleigh. Here are 10 things to know about Ruth in preparation for the Oct. 5 mayoral election.
- Born in Texas, Ruth grew up in Florida and moved to Raleigh in 2010 to become a Wake County Public School teacher—and, later, principal.
- Upon moving to Raleigh, he taught special education at Longview School, served as assistant principal at Holly Ridge Middle School and principal of AMIkids Infinity Wake County.
- Ruth was born into a military family—his father was in the Navy; his mother, in the Army—as the fourth born of five siblings, including an older and younger sister.
- Ruth earned his PhD from the University of Central Florida in public affairs.
- In 2017, Ruth began his role at NC State’s School of Social Work.
- He and wife Kiara have a 6-year-old son, Miles.
- Instrumental in founding the Justice Love Foundation, a nonprofit that supports social justice activists fighting for social change, Ruth now serves as president of the organization.
- When he’s not working or campaigning, you’ll find him spending time with his family, or playing basketball, football and golf—he’s currently upping his golf game with his son.
- A big pizza fan (one go-to pizza spot is Oakwood Pizza Box) and a lover of great food in general, Ruth’s current favorite Raleigh restaurant is Crawford and Son.
- If elected mayor, Ruth hopes to “see a dramatic increase in public trust in our city’s leadership and a reengaged community that is dedicated to rebuilding a strong Raleigh after such a difficult year.”