Reaching the Peake
Mark Peake wins special election for state senate
SOLEMNLY SWEAR — Lynchburg attorney Mark Peake took the oath of of office proceeding his election into the Virginia State Senate.
Photo Provided
Mark Peake, a Republican Lynchburg attorney, defeated his competitors in a special election for a central Virginia Senate seat after the resignation of former State Sen. Tom Garrett.
“We worked really hard, we had a really good campaign team, and I think we had a message that resonated with the voters,” Peake said.
“We got out there and talked to a lot of people over a long period of time, so I think good message, good values and a lot of
hard work.”
According to the News & Advance, the Lynchburg precinct ended up hosting the highest turnout at the special election.
The special election was held Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Peake ran against former Fluvanna County Sheriff Ryant L. Washington and started in his position the following day.
As a result of the fast moving process, Peake said he has not been able to focus much of his time on legislation.
“What I have done is look at pay for our sheriff’s deputies,” Peake said.
“I think we should always look at our core function to government and public safety is one of those core functions. Right now our deputies are really underpaid, and it’s causing a problem, and it also extends to our state troopers.”
Peake plans to use his position in the state Senate to protect the Constitution and keep the federal government at a reasonable distance.
“Immediately, that’s what I think we need to look at, and going forward we just have to protect our free market principles, protect and preserve the Constitution to make sure federal government doesn’t keep encroaching like they have been,” Peake said.
“The bigger goal is to protect our freedoms and our values, so that’s the ultimate job.”
Along with protecting the Constitution, Peake is looking at ways to give power back to parents in the education system.
“We are looking at ways to give parents more choice in education, especially in some failing school areas,” Peake said.
“I think we always need to keep, as much as possible, the control in the local areas so each locality has as much control as possible over its curriculum and how it wants to handle its schools.”
Liberty University students and graduates played a large role in Peake’s campaign.
Many students volunteered, and members from his campaign team were graduates, along with President Jerry Falwell Jr., who endorsed him during the campaign.
“My campaign manager, Josh Puccio, is a Liberty graduate,” Peake said.
“My field director has a degree from Liberty, and a lot of our volunteers were Liberty people.”
Peake said there are many ways for students to get involved with politics due to a number of upcoming elections.
The governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general primaries will be held in in June, and the general election will occur in the summer.
“There’s always a race in Virginia, and the best way to get going is to volunteer for the campaigns or intern on one of the campaign’s staff,” Peake said.
“There’s always a way to sign up and do something.”
Peake began his journey in politics during Ronald Reagan’s presidency when he was inspired to get involved with the government and make a difference.
“I’ve always wanted to make a difference, but I’ve been involved since I was in high school and Ronald Reagan came on the scene, and I think he inspired our whole generation to want to make a difference,” Peake said.
“He taught us conservative principles that are a guiding way of life for many conservatives.”