State Representative Peake Slammed on Social Media, Responds to Critics

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — State Representative Allen Peake is being slammed on social media for supporting Macon-Bibb Mayor-elect, Robert Reichert, and Monday he sent an e-mail defending his decision.

On the “Georgia Gun Owners” Facebook page, three posts criticizing Peake, and fellow Republican, State Senator Cecil Staton, have gotten hundreds of shares, likes, and comments.

One post says: “Instead of drawing a line in the sand and refusing to support such a left wing, anti-gun candidate for office, Staton and Peake forged on, openly supporting and even contributing money to Robert Reichert.”

Through e-mail, Peake sent “an open letter to the community” defending his position. It said:

“I may be an idiot for doing this, but I can’t help myself (and many of my friends and family will tell you I act like an idiot most of the time anyway!). Today, I have been attacked on a Facebook group page called Georgia Gun Owners as being soft on the second amendment and gun rights because I supported Robert Reichert for Mayor against Jack Ellis in the recent Macon-Bibb elections. Their logic is that “Gun owners should never have to choose between the lesser of two evils”, therefore I should not have supported Reichert, in their opinion.

First of all, I am a strong believer in the 2nd Amendment, and the right for every American to bear arms. I have been, am, and always will defend that right, and my voting record proves that. I have in the past questioned the right of a valid property owner to exercise their right to not allow guns on their private property, and I believe that is a debate worth having in an intellectual discussion. But I have supported the right to bear arms anywhere else a citizen chooses, including church, and on a college campus.

Second, I supported Robert Reichert for Mayor (especially in the runoff) because I felt very strongly that he was the right person for the job, for our diverse community. I don’t agree with all his positions, as he doesn’t agree with all mine. But his skill sets and experience as current mayor made him clearly the best choice for the new government, in my opinion.

The attack on the Georgia Gun Owners Facebook has gone viral, and has been pretty vicious, and readers of that site are only hearing the one side of the story told by citizens who are mad that I supported Reichert, and not another candidate. My ask is that if any of you are so inclined, that you would comment at this page – it can be found by clicking on Georgia Gun Owners in the search feature on Facebook – and let those that read this page know what you think. It may not do any good, and may be a useless exercise, but I just can’t stand idly by and do nothing.

Many of you may not know that I have drawn an opponent in my reelection campaign in 2014 for the Georgia State House. Some of the attacks may be coming because of the upcoming election. I refuse to engage in this type of politicking, and promise that I will only campaign on my strengths, and will not attack the character of my opponent. It will not happen.

As always, it is a privilege and honor to have represented the good folks of Bibb and Monroe County during the last 7 years, and I fully understand I only serve at your pleasure. My hope is that my record and accomplishments have served our citizens well, and that with the consolidation effort, we have turned a corner in moving our community forward, instead of continuing a downward spiral.

I appreciate so much your support and encouragement, and I am grateful to be your State Representative in the Georgia House.”

41NBC spoke with Peake over the phone after he sent that e-mail.

In response to the timing of Facebook posts Peake said: “You have to question yourself: Is it related to an upcoming campaign?  And I think that’s worth asking,” said Peake.

He also added, when he runs for re-election his campaign will focus on his strenghts and record, and not attacking his “opponent’s character.”