As we enter the campaign’s homestretch, our campaign for State Senate focuses on Jobs, Jobs, Jobs – just like it did from day one.  I believe the private sector creates jobs, not government.  However, government can do some basic things that we call WETT (Water, Education, Transportation and Tax Policy) to create a conducive environment for new job growth.

During the campaign, much of the discussion centered around who is conservative and who is not.  In all six of our debates, I have closed with the statement that we are all three very Republican and very Conservative.  One candidate Mr. Belle Isle continues to tout himself as “the only conservative” in the race and he states that you can tell when someone is conservative by their actions.  Using Mr. Belle Isle’s own criteria, then, let’s compare his record to the standards he sets for each of us.

1. Conservatives believe in low taxes and where taxes are necessary in taxing consumption – not income and wealth creation.  Since it taxes unrealized capital gains, Georgia’s biggest tax on wealth creation is the property tax.  While Mr. Belle Isle says he favors property tax relief, when the General Assembly brought forward HR 1, a proposal to dramatically cut property taxes, he sponsored a City Council resolution against it and lobbied the General Assembly to kill HR1.  Is that Conservatism in action?  I do not believe so; nor do those in the General Assembly who pushed tax reform because they each have endorsed me.

2. Conservatives are enraged that taxpayer dollars were used by Washington to bail out failing businesses.  Doesn’t the same principle apply locally?  Yet, the “conservative” Mr. Belle Isle led the charge on the Alpharetta council to spend taxpayer funds to benefit a private developer and the New City Center project.  Touting it as a public-private partnership, Mr. Belle Isle neglected the fact that the private developer had very little money in the project and that taxpayers would be left holding the bag.  Is that Conservatism in action?  Fortunately, the Mayor and remainder of Council realized the numbers just did not work, stopping the project from moving forward.  The parking deck alone would have cost taxpayers $8 million and the developer nothing. 

Let me share with you examples of my conservatism in action.

1. On Alpharetta City Council, I voted to increase the Homestead Exemption, saving homeowners thousands in taxes.  This is how I implement Common Sense Conservatism.

2. I was one of three leaders leading the effort to build the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park.  The late Bob Fulton secured a million dollars and the City of Alpharetta invested a million dollars to acquire the land.  After we acquired the property, we negotiated and delivered a $40 million world-class venue with $38 million in private investment. To make the deal even better, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra manages the facility at no cost to the taxpayers.   Even so, we receive 30 community dates per year for graduations and other non-profit public events.  True public-private partnerships require the private sector to carry the load, with government doing only those things the private sector cannot do as well.   This is another example of how I implement Common Sense Conservatism.

3. When I first joined the Georgia Department of Transportation board, I examined every budget category looking for ways to cut costs and increase revenue.  For example, the HERO emergency road assistance program cost $2.3 million a year to administer.  I initiated the idea to advertise on the side of the trucks and DOT placed that idea out to bid.  State Farm was among four companies bidding for advertising rights, paying $2 million annually for that privilege.   Now, this life-saving emergency road assistance program costs taxpayers just $300,000 a year, a savings of $2 million. Again, this is how I implement Common Sense Conservatism.

Even when Mr. Belle Isle’s conservatism is not in question, you mustexamine his effectiveness.   He has failed to convince his Council colleagues to even place his Zero Based Budgeting plan on the agenda much less getting it voted on by Council. Meanwhile, not one person serving with him on City Council has endorsed his
candidacy. Philosophy is important; philosophy translated into results is more important.

I do not question Mr. Belle Isle’s commitment or beliefs in the conservative cause.  I trust he will no longer question mine.  

If you examine the record, the Common Sense Conservative with a proven track record of saving the taxpayers money and creating new jobs for North Fulton is self-evident.   That is why I was endorsed by all six North Fulton Mayors and all six State Representatives in North Fulton.  That’s no accident, they recognize the real conservative and who is best equipped to deliver results.

If you have any comment, suggestions or questions, please e-mail brandonlbeach@aol.com.  Please visit www.beachforgeorgia.com or www.facebook.com/beachforsenate.
Paid for by Beach for Senate.