Paulette Williams

   When The Beatles brought its rock music genre to the United States in the 1960s, the four-member group created waves of emotions. Now an area group of female candidates also has adopted the “Fab Four” calling card, as they seek to cause a Democratic wave of blue in Northeast Georgia in the Nov. 5 General Election.

   Clayton’s Paulette Williams, a candidate for the Georgia House District 10, is joined in the “Fab Four” by fellow Democratic candidates June Krise for Georgia Senate District 50; Kim Floria, Georgia House District 30; and Charlotte Sleczkowski, Georgia House District 8.

   “We carry the same message. We are not working independent of each other. We have the same vision,” Williams told The Clayton Tribune of the “Fab Four,” whose primary campaign focus is women’s rights.

   One of the key messages for the “Fab Four” is “Protecting Your Rights, Protecting Your Health.”

   Williams, often seen driving through her district in her red pickup truck with her two dogs and campaign signage on the sides of the vehicle, has campaigned on the importance of women having access to reproductive care, contraception, and healthcare.

   The retiree of the U.S. Army also seeks advanced healthcare for veterans; better broadband; more affordable housing; the utilization of funds already available for Medicaid expansion; and the halt of local hospital closures.

   “The focus is making inroads into women’s health needs and women’s decisions,” said Williams, who has routinely traveled to Northeast Georgia’s counties during her civilian professional career.
“Communities get strengthened with women. We don’t want to lose anything. We don’t want to lose our right to vote, women’s privacy, or our health care.”

   Williams said she has seen the local support for women and she wants that to continue in the Georgia State House of Representatives’ District 10, which covers Rabun County and part of Habersham County.

   “I think the men are behind us,” said Williams, a retired U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nurse, and diabetes educator. “I think we are assets in the community.”

   Williams emphasized the importance of women having access to reproductive care and contraception, noting Georgia ranks low in healthcare.

   “We are No. 1 in business, but 50th in women dying during child birth,” long-time Rabun County resident Williams said of Georgia. “We need good access to health care and that will help a community. Somewhere we have lost our focus. We need our little hospitals.”

   Williams said access to broadband is crucial for the economy and available healthcare.

   “We do have a number of issues that need to be addressed as broadband impacts business,” Williams said of the challenges in District 10.

   “We have to have a look at housing. This is kind of an expensive area to live,” Williams said. “We have lacked this kind of apartment-style living, and we need that if we want to keep the businesses running.”

   The residents of the 10th District have shown they care about their community, she said.

   “We are neighbors. We are there for a person no matter what the connections are,” Williams said. “We have people from this community who come back to this community.
I want to preserve the uniqueness of this area, but sometimes progress means changes. Rabun really stands apart from other communities.”

   Williams said service workers now are driving an hour to get to work in the district because of a shortage of available affordable local housing.

   Serving in the military during the Vietnam War, Williams said she has seen first-hand the casualties of battle. She said that is a major reason why she seeks more medical assistance for veterans.

   Williams praised Rabun County for its annual Veterans Dinner. “This is showing what can be done for veterans,” she said. “It is a grand way to recognize your neighbors.”

   Williams said she has seen how females have stepped up during dire times in history. Among other areas, Williams said women excel in mathematics and engineering.

   Because of her profession in the medical field and her military experience, Williams said she held a higher position than many males in the U.S. Army.

   “I did outrank others and I did make more money than my counterparts,” said Williams of her military career. “The whole system recognized my education during the Vietnam War. In three years, I was a captain. It was nice to not feel undervalued.”

   Those receiving combat injuries were among the soldiers who received aid from Williams.

   “I saw gunshot wounds to the face, but the worse part is we had a burn unit. I saw the suffering of the war,” Williams said.

   Now, Williams said veterans personally face three types of “wars.”

   “The first is the war you were in. The second war is in the recovery, and the third war is to get your benefits,” said Williams, noting the district needs more available facilities for veterans to reduce their drive times for medical assistance.