As the long election for State Senate comes to a close, the three campaigns are sending three different messages.

One of my opponents – Brandon Beach – seems to be saying every way possible, “vote for me because of who I know and who endorsed me.”  He even attacked me in another newspaper this week using the endorsements of some of my former colleagues on the Alpharetta City Council.

One opponent – John Albers – sent a mailer saying “he is not a politician” that also called me a “politician” because I served on the City Council.

I take it as a compliment to have been attacked, because it says our campaign’s message of Conservative Reform is gaining strength – but I do want to take a minute to tell you some things my opponents did not say in their attacks at me.

While on the council, I received enormous pressure to vote in favor of taking Obama stimulus money for city spending projects.  I was urged to “go along to get along.”  While I respect my former colleagues, I could not do that.  Most of our spending problems have been caused by refusal to make tough decisions and say no to unneeded projects.

Voting against the Obama stimulus spending caused me to lose support from some of my colleagues, and not surprisingly they have endorsed Brandon in this campaign.  I respect their decision, but the facts behind the situation put Brandon’s attack in a different light.

The “no” votes I cast on the Obama stimulus spending also says something about Albers’ “politician” shot at me.  I was elected on a promise of controlling spending, and I stuck by that promise and made the tough decision even when it cost me political support.

By contrast, John Albers has no track record of making tough decisions and living by what he says. 

He has spent much of his campaign defending himself over misrepresentations he made in his campaign statements, and calling me a “politician” is just such a misrepresentation.

I recently mailed a “Commitment to the Voters” that asked the people of this district to hold me accountable.  You can know I will pass that test because my actions prove I will stand by my commitments, even when it costs me endorsements and political support.

That is what we are all looking for in our next senator, but we will not find that kind of leader by just looking at who they know or what they say. 

It’s all about what we do when it’s time to make the tough decisions.

Paid for by David Belle Isle for Senate