New Dooly sheriff looking to make mark on county

PINEHURST, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – This week, Dooly County voters decided on a new sheriff with a familiar last name. Craig Peavy is taking over the reigns after his father passed away in January. 

Not even a week since being voted Dooly County’s new sheriff, Craig Peavy still hasn’t had time to let it all sink in.

“Taking on what job I had and his also is just, it’s just been a lot going on, so I really have even had time to even think,” Peavy said. 

The 48-year-old Dooly County native is no stranger to the office — he’s worked there since he was a teen. Although he’s never sat behind his father’s old desk. 

“He made a hard platform for somebody to get to, regardless, it’s a tough job,” Peavy said. 

His father, Van, served as the county’s sheriff for 30 years. He died in January and Craig has been trying to bridge the gap ever since. 

He says he won’t come close to filling his father’s shoes. 

“…hopefully one day get to close to the same size kind of thing, if that makes sense, but filling his shoes, I think that’s impossible,” Peavy said. 

He’s out to set a track record of his own. 

“The 274 votes that I didn’t get…I want to be able to prove to them, I want to be able to help them, too,” Peavy said. 

Even then, he constantly thinks about his dad. There are reminders throughout the building, not to mention the eerie similarities between him and his father with how they got the job. 

When Van was elected, he was 48 years old. The same age as Craig. 

When Van ran in 2012, he won by 86%. Craig won the special election by the same margin. 

“I want to be able to prove myself as quick as possible,” Peavy said. 

Craig says he’s ready for the challenge and any obstacle, adding he knows he has an angel watching over his shoulder.