By John Fredericks / Staff

His legion of supporters stormed the "Beach” like a D-day invasion.

About 225 people braved 90-degree heat and turned out for Brandon Beach's first public fundraiser, hosted by area developer Penn Hodge at his Johns Creek home. The Beach team had to hire a shuttle to bring guests to and from the event, as some had to park their cars blocks away.

If raising early money and getting a huge turnout at a maiden fundraiser is any barometer for electoral success, then Beach (R) is going to be a force in his bid to replace retiring D-56 state senator Dan Moody in next July's GOP primary.

Beach's campaign team said they raised about $30,000 from the event, branded "A BBQ for Brandon Beach.” Beach is CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and a GDOT board member.

The event chair was Ga. House Speaker Pro-Tem Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek). Burkhalter called Beach "a good friend” and hailed him as the most qualified candidate in the race. "Brandon Beach will help us keep our conservative majority at the state capital which is critical as we advance our public policy agenda. We have already proven in our five years as a Republican majority that we are willing to take on the tough issues, issues that quite frankly were swept under the rug for years. Brandon will make a great addition to our team as we continue to make state government more efficient, effective and [accountable] to all Georgians. He gets things done,” said Burkhalter.

House Representative Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) hailed Beach's work with transportation as a key element. "It is very important to have that connection from the DOT board to the legislature, we have seen what has happened in the past when that connection does not exist. I think he will make an immediate impact on the transportation issues within this community,” Martin said.

CHAMBER AND GDOT BOARD BUDDIES SHOW THEIR MUSCLE

Local attorney and GNFCC member Lisa Blackstone lauded Beach's chamber success. "He has turned that chamber into quite a powerful organization that truly reaches out to the community. Brandon personally helped me with my business, he loves this community and it shows,” Blackstone said. 

Fellow GDOT board member Robert L. Brown, Jr., of Dekalb County, said,  "Brandon has extraordinary leadership skills and I think you are going to see visionary ideas and much progress through his term.”

THE BATTLE FOR ROSWELL

Roswell represents about 62 percent of the senate district that Beach is trying to win, while Sandy Springs accounts for 30 percent. Alpharetta and Milton bring up the rear with around eight percent combined. Simply stated, the battle to replace Moody will be won or lost in Roswell next July.

The other announced candidates in the race so far include Alpharetta Councilman David Belle Isle, House Judiciary Chairman Wendell Willard from Sandy Springs and community activist John Albers of Roswell. Although the Beach campaign team vows to cut into what is expected to be a huge plurality for Willard in Sandy Springs, the reality of that remains to be seen. No doubt the Beach brain trust will make hay with the fact that Willard played a critical role in bringing Sandy Springs to city-hood, and now his law firm is the official legal counsel of new city. Willard's firm billed Sandy Springs $750,000 for legal fees in 2008. Charges of conflicts of interest are sure to be debated.

Regardless, Beach has to win Roswell to offset Willard's name recognition advantage on his home turf. The Belle Isle candidacy is troublesome for Beach, too, as Belle Isle could slice into Beach's natural advantage in Alpharetta and Milton. That leaves Roswell. And John Albers may emerge as the wild card.

ACHILLES HEELS

As Willard's problem in Sandy Springs may be his firm's income from the city he represents, Beach's Achilles heel in Roswell is Charlie Brown. Beach was an ardent supporter of Brown's 30 story multiple high-rise towers debacle that went down in flames at the Roswell polls in 2007. Brown's project was vilified in the city and Roswell residents who opposed the failed caper have long memories. Negative emotion still runs high; especially on the east side of Ga. 400. This could be the opening for an activist like Albers. If he successfully ties Beach to Brown, and it resonates, old scabs may be torn off, and Albers could draw blood. That could sink Beach to some degree in Roswell, leaving Willard, Albers, or Belle Isle as the beneficiaries.

HENRY TO THE RESCUE?

But Roswell Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Lori Henry may serve as Beach's Roswell lifeline. Henry led the effort to defeat Brown's misguided towers Waterloo, and may be able to provide Beach with the bridge he needs to gain a comfort level with her voting base. Henry has not officially endorsed Beach, but she attended his fundraiser and praised Beach for bringing money and jobs to her city. "Brandon has been very good to Roswell, trying to get transportation dollars to come our way,” Henry said. "He continues to make a difference and that is why I am here tonight,” she added. If Henry gets elected mayor in November, and subsequently endorses Beach while putting her political machine behind him, which would be fresh off an historic electoral victory, the Albers campaign may be effectively dead in the water. Henry's forces are vibrant, numerous and highly effective. What they lack is money, and Beach will have no shortage of that. A Henry-Beach elixir could prove dynamic, especially if Beach can build his own network of "soccer moms and baseball dads” to augment Henry's impressive community activist network. 

One such supporter of that theory is Roswell resident David Tennery, who said he believes Beach will build a potent team of residential volunteers himself. "It is critical at this point for our future that we have a true grassroots campaign of the people. I like [Beach's] balance between personal life, politics and business, and that is why I am here tonight,” Tennery stated. "The more people [in Roswell] who meet him, the more will like him and what he stands for.”

Another Beach enthusiast, who preferred anonymity, said jobs would be the defining issue, come next summer, especially if the recession hasn't ebbed.  "Beach has created thousands of jobs in North Fulton County,” the supporter said. "Willard has created just one $750,000 job – for himself.”

Jack M. Fredericks contributed to this story.