before qualifying ends

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

As qualifying ended, one candidates affiliation with another political party began.

Circuit Clerk Brenda Peacock has served two terms as a Democrat, but decided the national Democratic Party didn’t represent her values.

"This was just my personal decision," said Peacock, who is running for re-election under the Republican Party’s banner. "Through a lot of prayer and thought, my husband and I decided (this was the thing to do)."

Pike County Republican Party chairman Lawrence Bowden said he is "pleased" to have the current circuit clerk running for re-election as a Republican.

Peacock said her decision has absolutely nothing to do with the local Democratic Party or its office holders.

"We’ve got a lot of good local people," she said referring to the Democrats currently holding office in Pike County.

Instead, it is the national party politics she opposes.

Peacock said President Bill Clinton’s continued efforts to veto laws against partial birth abortion helped her make the decision to switch parties.

"I don’t believe in abortion," Peacock said.

For her, the Republican Party represents her values more closely and "there’s nothing beyond your values."