Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

Peacock assumed his State Senate seat on January 9, 2012, as the successor to the retiring Republican Senator B. L. "Buddy" Shaw of Shreveport. He won the position in the [[general election]] held on November 19, 2011, when he defeated the term-limited Republican State Representative Jane H. Smith, a former school superintendent from [[Bossier City]]. Peacock polled 10,331 votes (55.5 percent) to Smith's 8,295 votes (44.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 22, 2011}}</ref>

Peacock assumed his State Senate seat on January 9, 2012, as the successor to the retiring Republican Senator [[B. L. "Buddy" Shaw]] of Shreveport. He won the position in the [[general election]] held on November 19, 2011, when he defeated the term-limited Republican State Representative Jane H. Smith, a former school superintendent from [[Bossier City]]. Peacock polled 10,331 votes (55.5 percent) to Smith's 8,295 votes (44.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 22, 2011}}</ref>

   

   

In the 2011 campaign, Jane Smith alleged that Peacock is "open-minded" regarding [[abortion]] and same-sex marriage. Peacock replied to the allegation by stressing his [[pro-life]] stance and his opposition to marriage by individuals of the same sex. Peacock charged that Smith had voted thirty times for tax increases, some of which were concealed by the state and compelled private companies, such as rental car agencies and utility firms, to collect taxes disguised as "fees." Peacock also said that Smith had voted to require insurance companies to cover [[contraception]] and medications to induce abortions. Smith also voted against allowing homeschoolers to participate in public school athletic programs. Peacock noted that Smith had a 38 percent rating from the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum in 2004 but had improved her ratings in most subsequent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nwlatpa.com/page/barrow-peacock-defends-his-pro-life-record|title=Barrow Peacock defends his pro-life record|publisher=nwlatpa.com|accessdate=February 8, 2012}}</ref>

In the 2011 campaign, Jane Smith alleged that Peacock is "open-minded" regarding [[abortion]] and same-sex marriage. Peacock replied to the allegation by stressing his [[pro-life]] stance and his opposition to marriage by individuals of the same sex. Peacock charged that Smith had voted thirty times for tax increases, some of which were concealed by the state and compelled private companies, such as rental car agencies and utility firms, to collect taxes disguised as "fees." Peacock also said that Smith had voted to require insurance companies to cover [[contraception]] and medications to induce abortions. Smith also voted against allowing homeschoolers to participate in public school athletic programs. Peacock noted that Smith had a 38 percent rating from the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum in 2004 but had improved her ratings in most subsequent years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nwlatpa.com/page/barrow-peacock-defends-his-pro-life-record|title=Barrow Peacock defends his pro-life record|publisher=nwlatpa.com|accessdate=February 8, 2012}}</ref>