Peachtree City mayoral candidate Cyndi Plunkett picked up a couple of key endorsements Monday, as the Fayette County Republican Party and former County Commissioner Peter Pfeifer officially came out in support of her campaign.
“I am very honored to receive the endorsement of the Fayette County GOP,” Plunkett said.
“Their endorsement speaks to the importance of the choice the Peachtree City voters will be making in this runoff. I am the only Republican in this race and I will continue to fight for conservative principles, such as keeping our taxes low.”
In a news release, Fayette County Republican Party Chairman David Studdard said Plunkett “has demonstrated a commitment to the ideals and principals of our party. She has the quiet support of many of Fayette County's top Republicans, both at the local and state level. We enthusiastically offer her ours.”
Plunkett is challenging former Post 1 councilman Don Haddix in a Dec. 1 runoff for the mayor’s seat. Haddix received nearly 1,000 more votes than Plunkett in the Nov. 3 general election, but failed to win outright. Haddix secured 45 percent of the total vote. He needed 50 percent to avoid a runoff.
Haddix shrugged off the GOP’s Monday endorsement of his opponent.
“I am a Conservative Independent, not a Republican,” Haddix explained.
“Therefore, this being an issue of party versus platform, [the GOP] had no other choice. For many years I have been an Independent because my objectives are true conservative principles. Elected officials should serve citizens, not parties. There are Republicans attempting to do so, but it is hard to defy the party line.”
Peter Pfeifer, who lost his county commission re-election bid in a runoff to Lee Hearn last year, also endorsed Plunkett Monday. Pfeifer has remained active in the Fayette County Republican Party. His former political rival and current county commissioner Eric Maxwell has given money to Plunkett’s campaign.
While Pfeifer and Maxwell often clashed on the county commission, they agree on Plunkett.
Pfeifer wrote in a letter Monday that he supports Plunkett because he worries that Haddix and Haddix’s political allies are close to gaining complete control of the council.
“Total control of government is not good. You only see it happen on the local level because the numbers on local councils and commissions are so few,” Pfeifer explained.
“There is always at least some opposition at the state and federal levels because those governments are so much larger. It looks to me like ‘Don’s Party’ is going to be in control of the Council. We need to have some independence on the Council. People need to have to convince others that they are correct. Sometimes you need someone who will standup and forcefully point out what they think are errors.
“Don and Doug Sturbaum filled that role most recently. Cyndi, whether she likes it or not, needs to fill that role now.”
Plunkett was the only one of the two candidates to seek an endorsement by the local Republican Party.
Prior to the Nov. 3 general election, only Post 1 candidate Shelby Barker obtained an official Republican endorsement. Barker failed to qualify for the runoff.
Municipal elections in Peachtree City are officially non-partisan, meaning no party affiliation is listed on the ballot. However, that does not stop candidates from seeking endorsements from political parties.
“If one insists on a label, I am of the Friends, Neighbors and Citizens Party,” Haddix said.
“Their endorsement is what really matters to me.”
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