RICHMOND HILL – As part of her three-day campaign tour in South Georgia, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms made a stop in Richmond Hill on Friday to discuss veterans’ issues, with a special focus on veterans’ healthcare needs. She was joined at the roundtable by other statewide Democratic candidates – some of whom are veterans themselves – and local veteran community leaders. “We are gathered to have some really important conversations, and not just for me to talk but most importantly for me to listen,” Bottoms said. Owing to the presence of Fort Stewart, Bryan County is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the state, alongside neighboring Liberty and Effingham counties. Pat Wilver, a U.S. Army veteran and former candidate for the U.S. House 1st District seat, appreciated Bottoms’ focus on South Georgia during her campaign tour “There’s a lot of criticism that politicians never make it out of Atlanta, so I think the fact that they held this roundtable here in Richmond Hill, that they’re holding the convention (in Savannah) means a lot,” said Wilver. Roundtable participant spoke out on issues such as long wait times at VA hospitals, the need for Medicaid expansion in Georgia and better mental health support and jobs for veterans. Bottoms has made Medicaid expansion a central part of her campaign, a move that many at the roundtable believe is the right call to help veterans currently without health insurance, particularly in rural counties.…
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