Cobb Commissioner Apologizes

Cobb County District 4 Commissioner Annette Kesting says her February speech at Pleasant Gove Missionary Baptist Church was not meant to be racist and that parts were taken out of context.

"I would like to apologize to those I offended in my speech at Pleasant Grove," she said at the Marietta Square Friday.

Kesting's Black History Month speech drew criticism because she spoke out against some of her coworkers in Cobb County government.

"I love my enemies. I pray with my enemies every day because I have to go up to the third floor and work with white women," she said in the speech, which was videotaped by the church.

In that speech, Kesting also said, "You'd be amazed at seeing the people I work with in the county. They are not Christian people."

The Anti Defamation League called the remark offensive. The remarks also drew criticism from some church members and county commissioners.

Friday, flanked by members of the human rights group New Order, Kesting said some colleagues in Cobb County Government had been rude to her since she was elected in 2004 and were trying to force her out. When asked who was trying to force her out she said, "No comment."

Friday's statement drew Kesting supporters and detractors.

"Everyone goes through stuff. All politicians have skeletons in their closet," said New Order founder Gerald Rose, a supporter of Kesting's.

"It sounded to me like it was a re-election speech and oh, by the way I apologize. I'm not sure there was a lot of sincerity in that," said John Delves, who lives in Kesting's Cobb County district.

Kesting has not said whether she plans to run for reelection.