Meet the Candidate: Jeff McPeake for Raleigh County Magistrate – Division 3

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your experience/accomplishments

I am a lifelong resident of Raleigh County. I retired from the Beckley Police Department as The Deputy Chief of Police in 2017.

I have a Bachelors degree in “Criminal Justice Administration” from Mountain State University. I graduated the West Virginia State Police Academy 99th basic class where I was voted the “Outstanding Officer” of the class.

I am a past President of the Beckley Raleigh County Junior Chamber of Commerce. I was the Chairman of the March of Dimes Walk America for several years. I founded “Camp Rainbow”-an area camp for children with disabilities and their siblings. I am a Christian with Conservative values.

I grew up in MacArthur and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1979. I married in 1990 and eventually had 2 wonderful children Justin and Jessica. I joined the Beckley Police Department in 1997. While at the Beckley Police Department, I served as the Coordinator of the Southern Regional Highway Safety Program covering 9 counties.

I became a law enforcement instructor and a Field Training Officer for the department. I wrote the grant and became the first prevention resource officer in Raleigh County School history and was assigned to Woodrow Wilson High School. After retiring as the Deputy Chief of Police in 2017, I went on to work as a Raleigh County Deputy Sheriff and was assigned to the Raleigh County Courthouse as a bailiff.

⁃    What motivated you to run for Magistrate?

My motivation for this position is my overwhelming desire to continue to serve the citizens of Raleigh County. I think the citizens deserve someone that can listen to both sides of an issue and remain neutral while coming up with a resolution. I feel that I can draw on my management experience from the private sector as well as the many roles I served within the Beckley Police Department and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office to render fair decisions. While working for the Sheriff in the courthouse, I worked directly with the judges and magistrates on a daily basis. It was there that I gained immeasurable experience and the motivation to continue to serve the citizens as a Raleigh County Magistrate.

⁃    What are some issues facing Raleigh County right now that you would like to see addressed? How would you attempt resolving those issues?

Like many areas around the state, we are dealing with many different issues. In our area, we are dealing with a drug abuse epidemic, increasing crime and a growing homeless population to name a few. It is improper for a magistrate to campaign on an “I’ll be tough on Crime” platform. A candidate for magistrate must remain neutral at all times. That said, I don’t think walking around with NARCAN in your pocket is normal. We must address this problem at its core. I feel that we must continue to go after the drug dealers that are making a living exploiting people.

We must ensure that there are consequences for criminal activity. I feel that repeat offenders must be held accountable for their actions. Certainly, crime is a problem nationwide, but I feel that we must take a look at our specific area to ensure that we are doing enough to curb the upward trend. And finally, an issue that I hear on a regular basis is “Homelessness”. We must try to identify the true homeless population. Many of the people in the downtown Beckley area are not homeless but have nowhere to go during the day. We must address this issue to affect the perception of homelessness in our area. We, as a community, must make sure that we show compassion to those truly in need.

⁃    What makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates, what do you bring to the table that they don’t?

I feel that I am unique to this roll because of my experience as a retired law enforcement officer coupled with working directly in the court system for the last 3 years. I have been in the courtroom and sat through hundreds of hearings.I am well acquainted with the procedural aspects of conducting formal hearings. But what I feel is more important than the mere knowledge of the law and procedure, is the way in which it is applied. I am very knowledgeable, fair and even tempered. I feel that no other candidate in this division has this experience.

⁃    Is there anything else voters should know about you and your campaign?

I want the voters to know that I will give 100 percent to this position. I bring experience, compassion and honesty to the table. I feel that the citizens of Raleigh County could benefit from my years of experience in problem solving. I would be honored to continue to serve the citizens of Raleigh County. I humbly ask for your vote on May 14th.