Beaudreau weighs bid for Linder's seat

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett County District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau is eying the U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. John Linder.

"I'm certainly considering it, heavily, with trusted friends of mine and others," said Beadreau, a Republican from Lawrenceville. "I'm asking their opinion, and I hope to make a decision as soon as I can."

Beaudreau has served on the county commission since 2004, when he unseated incumbent Republican John Dunn. He has been the commission's odd man out on recent finance matters, casting the lone dissenting vote on the 2009 and 2010 budgets and last year's property tax increase.

"I've received a tremendous amount of correspondence via phone, email and personally," he said. "It's been an honor to be a public servant for going on six years at the county. I have to figure out whether the people want me to continue to serve there or somewhere else."

Beaudreau said he has a website, mikebeaudreau.com, to field public sentiment and determine whether he could raise enough money to mount a Congressional campaign.

"I've got serious discussions with my family and others before I decide," he said. "Some folks looking at that race have a lot of money in the bank. I don't. But, in 2004, I got outspent 6-to-1. I've never been afraid of running against money."