Clay County Commission Chairman Rob Peck Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2026

Staff Report

Clay County Commission Chairman Dr. Rob Peck has announced he will not seek re-election when his current term ends in December 2026, bringing to a close a 12-year tenure on the Clay County Board of Commissioners. Peck, who has served twice as vice chairman and for the past eight years as chairman, said the decision followed “much thoughtful reflection and prayer.”

In a statement to county residents, Peck highlighted a record of fiscal discipline and long-term planning during his time on the board. He credited the board’s approach with strengthening the county’s financial position, rebuilding reserves, ending deficit spending, and running budget surpluses for eight consecutive years. During that period, the county pursued and secured nearly $90 million in grants and legislative funding for capital improvements and immediate needs, while reducing debt and limiting tax increases. Peck noted the county navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, record inflation, and economic uncertainty with only a single 2% tax increase over 11 years.

Peck also pointed to major investments in public safety, education, and quality-of-life projects. These include completion of a new 5,000-square-foot Public Safety Grade 911 facility, plans for a new Emergency Management Complex, construction of a new Hayesville Primary School, ongoing work on a new Hayesville Middle School, and a new high school sports complex. Additional accomplishments cited include expanded recreational opportunities, renovations to the senior center and community services building, the creation of a Veterans Park, and progress on countywide broadband expansion.

Emphasizing collaboration, Peck said the accomplishments of the past decade were the result of teamwork among commissioners, county staff, department heads, and engaged citizens. He expressed gratitude to fellow commissioners past and present, county leadership and employees, and the residents of Clay County for their trust and support.

While many residents encouraged him to run again, Peck said he feels called to devote more time to his family and his chiropractic practice, Advanced Spinal Correction, where he has served patients for more than 20 years. He stressed that his commitment to the county remains strong and that he plans to stay involved in the community after leaving office.

Peck said he remains fully committed to completing the work ahead during his remaining time in office and to ensuring a smooth transition for future leadership. “Clay County is a special place because of its people,” he said, adding that serving as chairman has been “one of the highest honors” of his life.

Read Peck's full statement below

Dear Fellow Citizens of Clay County,

The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” After much thoughtful reflection and prayer, I have concluded that my season of elected service on the Clay County Board of Commissioners is drawing to a close.

I am announcing today that I will not file for re-election when my current term concludes in December 2026. It has been and remains one of the highest honors of my life to serve this extraordinary county for twelve years- twice as Vice Chairman and proudly as Chairman for my final eight years.

Together, we have accomplished much of which we can all be proud. Through careful stewardship, we strengthened the county’s financial position, rebuilt reserves, and maintained fiscal responsibility while keeping taxes low. We ended deficit spending, running a surplus 8 straight years by implementing strong budgetary policies, tight fiscal controls, enhanced business practices, eliminating duplication of services and consolidated departments and facilities. We ambitiously pursued and were awarded nearly 90 million in grants and legislative dollars in the last 7 years alone for capital improvements and immediate needs. We simultaneously reduced debt service and eliminated short-term borrowing by growing a strong general fund. All of this while navigating COVID, record inflation and uncertain economic times with only a single 2% tax increase over our first 11 years with total cumulative inflation over the same period of nearly 37%.

Creating a culture of fiscal discipline has allowed us to invest heavily in our people, and departments. Public safety has been enhanced through better equipment, facilities, and support for our first responders. Notably the recent completion of a new state of the art 5K sq ft Public Safety Grade 911 Facility and a soon to be started 12k sq ft Emergency Management Complex.

We partnered with the Clay County Board of Eduction to deliver modern educational facilities for our children. This includes a new age-appropriate Hayesville Primary School which was built on time and under budget and a new Hayesville Middle School which is currently under construction the majority of which will be completed in the next year. Together, we also completed the construction of a new high school sports complex. We were the first board to offer educators and support staff local supplements and have done so for the last few years.

We expanded recreational opportunities that enrich our quality of life, renovated our senior center and community services building, worked with Veteran’s Organizations to build a new Veterans Park, partnered and advocated for county wide broadband expansion, and saw necessary upgrades to critical infrastructure and departments.

These achievements were not the work of one person, but the result of collaboration, shared vision, and the hard work of many. They happened because citizens like you demanded better stewardship, because department heads and employees worked with excellence and integrity, and because my fellow commissioners put the good of Clay County above politics or personal ambition.

I am deeply grateful to my fellow commissioners—past and present—for their dedication and partnership. I extend heartfelt thanks to our county manager, county attorney, clerk to the board, finance officer, department heads, and every member of our outstanding county staff whose professionalism and commitment make Clay County function so well each day. Most of all, thank you to the citizens of Clay County for entrusting me with this responsibility.

Many of you have reached out in recent weeks with kind words, encouragement to run again, and appreciation for our service together. Your support has meant more than you know, and I am truly humbled by it. While I am grateful for the confidence you have shown, I feel called to invest more time in those pursuits that return the greatest personal value—my family, my chiropractic practice at Advanced Spinal Correction, and the patients I have had the privilege to serve for over twenty years.

My love for Clay County and its people remains as strong as ever. This is home, and I will continue to contribute to our community in new ways after my term ends.

In the eleven months ahead, there is important work still to do and many projects in various stages of development, and I remain fully committed to finishing strong—advancing the priorities we have set together and ensuring a smooth transition for the next generation of leadership.

Thank you for allowing me to serve. It has been a profound privilege, and I will always be thankful for the trust you placed in me. Clay County is a special place because of its people, and I am proud to call it home.

With gratitude and respect,

Dr. Rob Peck

Chairman, Clay County Board of Commissioners