RINCON — Retired U.S. Army Col. Dr. Michelle Munroe has a commanding knowledge of the issue that ranks first on her list of campaign priorities — health care.

A Richmond Hill Democrat who is aiming to unseat U.S. District 1 Rep. Buddy Carter, Munroe was the first female commander of Winn Army Community Hospital at Fort Stewart. She is also a certified nurse-midwife.

Munroe decided to launch her candidacy after an unproductive encounter with Carter shortly after her 30 years of decorated military service concluded in 2020. She was trying to start a birth center in Hinesville.

“In the state of Georgia, there are 79 counties without an obstetrician,” she said, “and in the state of Georgia — although I’ve done over 18 years of federal practice independently — I am required to have a supervising physician and they don’t have any. I couldn’t find a supervising physician to back the practice.

“I had a hospital that was willing to support me. I had a location. I had everything set up but I couldn’t find that obstetrician.”

That’s where District 1’s Republican congressman entered the picture, Munroe said.

She explained, “In my frustration, I actually went and met with Buddy Carter and I said, ‘I want to bring you solutions. We have issues with access to care. We have rural hospitals that are closing.’

“I also talked about maternal and infant mortality. In the state of Georgia, in 2020 when I was looking at all of this, we were ranked F by the March of Dimes. We have moved from F to a D- but only because we went from 11.7 percent infant mortality to 11.4.

“That’s not really a change in my book — and Chatham County actually remained an F.”

Munroe said she told Carter that she wanted to help improve health care affordability and accessibility in the district.

“And he said, ‘That’s not my issue. It’s a state issue,’” Munroe said. “ And I thought to myself, ‘Wow. As a federal legislator, you have so much influence and your influence could be used for change and making a difference in these communities.’”

Munroe thinks Carter, at the very least, should have helped her link with the proper state authorities. He didn’t, she said.

“It kept resonating with me and I just stepped back and said, ‘If he’s not going to change it, who is? I need to step into this race so that I can make changes in this district.’ That’s why my slogan is, ‘A trusted leader for change,’” Munroe said.

A political novice, Munroe realizes she faces a steep climb against the entrenched incumbent. She is undeterred, however.

“He already has $2 million is his coffers for this election,” she said. “It’s going to be an uphill battle no matter who runs against him and we know that because — even last time in 2020 when Daniel Merritt tried to run against him as a Republican — (Merritt) didn’t get anywhere.”

Munroe is one of three Democrat challengers. The others are Wade Herring and Joyce Marie Griggs, who lost handily to Carter in the 2020 general election.

Herring opted to run following the Jan. 6 insurrection and Carter’s vote against certifying the result of the 2020 presidential election. Munroe shares that concern.

“What I think from that perspective, especially being military officer, is that was an attack on our country and people aren’t recognizing it,” she said. “That was like 9/11. It really was.

“I get this guttoral response when I think about January 6, the insurrection and the attack on our Capitol. That should never have happenered here.

“... That just crushes my heart.”

Munroe called Carter’s vote against the certification hypocritical.

“This was the very election that he got elected in,” she said. “How is it (rigged)?  It’s a double standard.

“It’s OK for him to get elected but not the president?”

Munroe mentioned education as another concern. She would like for kindergarten to be mandatory. Georgia law requires that students attend a public or private school or a home study program from their sixth to 16th birthdays.

“We all rightly know that when start kids off early with education, it sets the foundation for success later in life,” Munroe said. “(The students’) vocabulary improves, their study habits improve, their social interactions improve and yet (mandatory kindergarten) is not a requirement.

“I would start as a minimum to make kindergarten a requirement overall but we need to look at even starting as early as three years old for pre-K. 

“You could do it as a graduated approach. You  could do it three days a week at three years old and five days a week at pre-K, and really start it off that way.

“That opens opportunities for the caretakers at home — whether they be male of female — to volunteer or look at job opportunities that are available for them because child care is so expensive.

“It’s a win-win.”

Munroe doesn’t believe every child should attend college. She thinks many  — some as young as 16 — could be set up for career success through apprenticeships and training programs in various trades.

In addition to jobs, Munroe said she has heard a lot of talk about climate change while on the campaign trail. She is proponent of enhanced public transportation. 

“Looking to decrease our carbon footprint is important,” she said.

Munroe, who promised to be an advocate for the military and veterans, considers herself a moderate on most issues, including Second Amendment rights.

“I really am more in the middle but what pushes me to the Democrats is my health care views,” she said. “I have no issues with people having their guns. I’ve do have training with guns as a military member but that’s a thing I do believe in — making sure people are safe.”