Casey Cagle
Encyclopedia
Lowell S. "Casey" Cagle (born January 12, 1966) is an American politician currently serving as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
. He is a member of the Republican Party
, a conservative
, and a former member of the General Assembly
in the U.S. state of Georgia
. In 2006, Cagle defeated political activist Ralph Reed
in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
. He later defeated Democrat Jim Martin November 7, 2006, to become the first Republican Lieutenant Governor
in Georgia's history.
and raised by his single mother. He is a seventh generation resident of Hall County, Georgia. According to his legislative biography, he "attended eight different elementary schools by age six, but persevered to graduate from Hall County's public schools." After graduating from Johnson High School
, Cagle attended Gainesville State College
and Georgia Southern University
to play football. After an injury ended his dreams of playing college football, Cagle entered the business world, starting his first venture, a small tuxedo shop in Gainesville, when he was just 20 years old.
in Senate District 49 that included Hall County and parts of Dawson County
and Forsyth County
. He upset the Democratic
incumbent, Jane Hemmer, and became the youngest member of the State Senate. He was re-elected five times and served from 1995 to 2006. During this time, Cagle served as Chairman of the State Senate Finance Committee, Vice Chairman of Science and Technology Committee, and as a member of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee.
activist Ralph Reed
. Initially considered the underdog, Cagle emerged as a serious challenger to Reed. Reed accused Cagle of negative campaigning
, blaming Cagle for unfavorable media attention arising from the federal investigation into the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
. On July 18, 2006, Cagle defeated Reed in the Republican Party primary with Cagle taking 56% of the vote to Reed's 44%. He then went on to successfully face former state representative Jim Martin
in the general election and won with 54.1% to Martin's 42.3%.
, Atlanta is the seventh-worst congestion "traffic trap" in the United States. In February 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation oversight board removed DOT Commissioner Gena Evans. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle spoke out against the move to fire Evans and said that "Every Georgian in this state should be outraged at what took place."
nomination for Governor of Georgia. According to documents filed with the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the Georgians for Cagle campaign raised $1,255,543.45 in the second half of 2008. This was nearly $700,000 more than Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine who raised $564,270.00.
He ran for and won re-election as lieutenant governor instead.
Lieutenant Governor Primary Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |227,968
| |56%
|
| |Ralph Reed
| align="right" |178,790
| |44%
|
|-
|2010
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |525,287
| |100%
|
| |(no candidate)
| align="right" |0
| |0%
|
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
Lieutenant Governor General Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Libertarian
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,134,517
| |54.1%
|
| |Jim Martin
| align="right" |887,506
| |42.3%
|
| |Allen Buckley
| align="right" |75,673
| |3.6%
|
|-
|2010
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,403,977
| |54.7%
|
| |Carol Porter
| align="right" |1,074,624
| |41.9%
|
| |Dan Barber
| align="right" |88,746
| |3.5%
|
Lowell S. "Casey" Cagle (born January 12, 1966) is an American politician currently serving as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
. He is a member of the Republican Party
, a conservative
, and a former member of the General Assembly
in the U.S. state of Georgia
. In 2006, Cagle defeated political activist Ralph Reed
in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
. He later defeated Democrat Jim Martin November 7, 2006, to become the first Republican Lieutenant Governor
in Georgia's history.
and raised by his single mother. He is a seventh generation resident of Hall County, Georgia. According to his legislative biography, he "attended eight different elementary schools by age six, but persevered to graduate from Hall County's public schools." After graduating from Johnson High School
, Cagle attended Gainesville State College
and Georgia Southern University
to play football. After an injury ended his dreams of playing college football, Cagle entered the business world, starting his first venture, a small tuxedo shop in Gainesville, when he was just 20 years old.
in Senate District 49 that included Hall County and parts of Dawson County
and Forsyth County
. He upset the Democratic
incumbent, Jane Hemmer, and became the youngest member of the State Senate. He was re-elected five times and served from 1995 to 2006. During this time, Cagle served as Chairman of the State Senate Finance Committee, Vice Chairman of Science and Technology Committee, and as a member of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee.
activist Ralph Reed
. Initially considered the underdog, Cagle emerged as a serious challenger to Reed. Reed accused Cagle of negative campaigning
, blaming Cagle for unfavorable media attention arising from the federal investigation into the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
. On July 18, 2006, Cagle defeated Reed in the Republican Party primary with Cagle taking 56% of the vote to Reed's 44%. He then went on to successfully face former state representative Jim Martin
in the general election and won with 54.1% to Martin's 42.3%.
, Atlanta is the seventh-worst congestion "traffic trap" in the United States. In February 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation oversight board removed DOT Commissioner Gena Evans. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle spoke out against the move to fire Evans and said that "Every Georgian in this state should be outraged at what took place."
nomination for Governor of Georgia. According to documents filed with the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the Georgians for Cagle campaign raised $1,255,543.45 in the second half of 2008. This was nearly $700,000 more than Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine who raised $564,270.00.
He ran for and won re-election as lieutenant governor instead.
Lieutenant Governor Primary Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |227,968
| |56%
|
| |Ralph Reed
| align="right" |178,790
| |44%
|
|-
|2010
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |525,287
| |100%
|
| |(no candidate)
| align="right" |0
| |0%
|
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
Lieutenant Governor General Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Libertarian
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,134,517
| |54.1%
|
| |Jim Martin
| align="right" |887,506
| |42.3%
|
| |Allen Buckley
| align="right" |75,673
| |3.6%
|
|-
|2010
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,403,977
| |54.7%
|
| |Carol Porter
| align="right" |1,074,624
| |41.9%
|
| |Dan Barber
| align="right" |88,746
| |3.5%
|
Lowell S. "Casey" Cagle (born January 12, 1966) is an American politician currently serving as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
. He is a member of the Republican Party
, a conservative
, and a former member of the General Assembly
in the U.S. state of Georgia
. In 2006, Cagle defeated political activist Ralph Reed
in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
. He later defeated Democrat Jim Martin November 7, 2006, to become the first Republican Lieutenant Governor
in Georgia's history.
and raised by his single mother. He is a seventh generation resident of Hall County, Georgia. According to his legislative biography, he "attended eight different elementary schools by age six, but persevered to graduate from Hall County's public schools." After graduating from Johnson High School
, Cagle attended Gainesville State College
and Georgia Southern University
to play football. After an injury ended his dreams of playing college football, Cagle entered the business world, starting his first venture, a small tuxedo shop in Gainesville, when he was just 20 years old.
in Senate District 49 that included Hall County and parts of Dawson County
and Forsyth County
. He upset the Democratic
incumbent, Jane Hemmer, and became the youngest member of the State Senate. He was re-elected five times and served from 1995 to 2006. During this time, Cagle served as Chairman of the State Senate Finance Committee, Vice Chairman of Science and Technology Committee, and as a member of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee.
activist Ralph Reed
. Initially considered the underdog, Cagle emerged as a serious challenger to Reed. Reed accused Cagle of negative campaigning
, blaming Cagle for unfavorable media attention arising from the federal investigation into the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
. On July 18, 2006, Cagle defeated Reed in the Republican Party primary with Cagle taking 56% of the vote to Reed's 44%. He then went on to successfully face former state representative Jim Martin
in the general election and won with 54.1% to Martin's 42.3%.
, Atlanta is the seventh-worst congestion "traffic trap" in the United States. In February 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation oversight board removed DOT Commissioner Gena Evans. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle spoke out against the move to fire Evans and said that "Every Georgian in this state should be outraged at what took place."
nomination for Governor of Georgia. According to documents filed with the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the Georgians for Cagle campaign raised $1,255,543.45 in the second half of 2008. This was nearly $700,000 more than Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine who raised $564,270.00.
He ran for and won re-election as lieutenant governor instead.
Lieutenant Governor Primary Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |227,968
| |56%
|
| |Ralph Reed
| align="right" |178,790
| |44%
|
|-
|2010
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |525,287
| |100%
|
| |(no candidate)
| align="right" |0
| |0%
|
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
Lieutenant Governor General Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Libertarian
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,134,517
| |54.1%
|
| |Jim Martin
| align="right" |887,506
| |42.3%
|
| |Allen Buckley
| align="right" |75,673
| |3.6%
|
|-
|2010
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,403,977
| |54.7%
|
| |Carol Porter
| align="right" |1,074,624
| |41.9%
|
| |Dan Barber
| align="right" |88,746
| |3.5%
|
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, a conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
, and a former member of the General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
in the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In 2006, Cagle defeated political activist Ralph Reed
Ralph E. Reed, Jr.
Ralph Eugene Reed, Jr., is a conservative American political activist, best known as the first executive director of the Christian Coalition during the early 1990s. He sought the Republican nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia but lost the primary election on July 18, 2006,...
in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He later defeated Democrat Jim Martin November 7, 2006, to become the first Republican Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
in Georgia's history.
Early life
Cagle was born Lowell S. Casey Cagle in Gainesville, GeorgiaGainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
and raised by his single mother. He is a seventh generation resident of Hall County, Georgia. According to his legislative biography, he "attended eight different elementary schools by age six, but persevered to graduate from Hall County's public schools." After graduating from Johnson High School
Johnson High School (Gainesville, Georgia)
Robert Wood Johnson High School is a public high school located in Gainesville Georgia, USA, operated by Hall County Schools. The school serves 1,150 students in grades 9 to 12.- About Johnson :...
, Cagle attended Gainesville State College
Gainesville State College
Gainesville State College is a state college of the University System of Georgia serving northeast Georgia since 1964. The Gainesville State College Gainesville Campus, located 45 miles northeast of Atlanta and six miles southwest of downtown Gainesville in Oakwood, is on Georgia State Route 53...
and Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
to play football. After an injury ended his dreams of playing college football, Cagle entered the business world, starting his first venture, a small tuxedo shop in Gainesville, when he was just 20 years old.
Business career
After returning to Gainesville in 1986, Cagle started what would turn into a successful tuxedo rental company. He expanded the retail business into multiple locations throughout North Georgia. He founded Southern Heritage Bank in 1999 and served as its chairman until it merged into Gainesville Bank & Trust in 2004, and later SunTrust Banks in 2008. Cagle joined the board of directors of GB&T in 2005. According to filings, his estimated net worth is $3 million.State senate
In 1994, at age 28, Cagle ran for the Georgia SenateGeorgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
in Senate District 49 that included Hall County and parts of Dawson County
Dawson County, Georgia
Dawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1857 from Gilmer and Lumpkin counties. As of 2000, the population is 15,999. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,484...
and Forsyth County
Forsyth County, Georgia
Forsyth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat is Cumming, Georgia. Forsyth County is a part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
. He upset the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent, Jane Hemmer, and became the youngest member of the State Senate. He was re-elected five times and served from 1995 to 2006. During this time, Cagle served as Chairman of the State Senate Finance Committee, Vice Chairman of Science and Technology Committee, and as a member of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee.
Campaign for lieutenant governor
In early 2005, Cagle declared his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. He was opposed in the Republican primary by nationally known Christian conservativeChristian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
activist Ralph Reed
Ralph E. Reed, Jr.
Ralph Eugene Reed, Jr., is a conservative American political activist, best known as the first executive director of the Christian Coalition during the early 1990s. He sought the Republican nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia but lost the primary election on July 18, 2006,...
. Initially considered the underdog, Cagle emerged as a serious challenger to Reed. Reed accused Cagle of negative campaigning
Negative campaigning
Negative campaigning, also known more colloquially as "mudslinging", is trying to win an advantage by referring to negative aspects of an opponent or of a policy rather than emphasizing one's own positive attributes or preferred policies...
, blaming Cagle for unfavorable media attention arising from the federal investigation into the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
. On July 18, 2006, Cagle defeated Reed in the Republican Party primary with Cagle taking 56% of the vote to Reed's 44%. He then went on to successfully face former state representative Jim Martin
Jim Martin (Georgia politician)
James Francis "Jim" Martin is an American politician and former member of the Georgia General Assembly. He is a Democrat. Martin opposed incumbent U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss in the 2008 election...
in the general election and won with 54.1% to Martin's 42.3%.
Transportation
According to Cagle's official website, "the time for small ideas and quick fixes on transportation has passed. Instead, we should recognize that our state’s economic future rests on our courage to make real reform." Into 2009, transportation continues to be a major problem for Georgia and Metro Atlanta. According to ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
, Atlanta is the seventh-worst congestion "traffic trap" in the United States. In February 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation oversight board removed DOT Commissioner Gena Evans. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle spoke out against the move to fire Evans and said that "Every Georgian in this state should be outraged at what took place."
Campaign for governor
Cagle filed paperwork for the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for Governor of Georgia. According to documents filed with the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the Georgians for Cagle campaign raised $1,255,543.45 in the second half of 2008. This was nearly $700,000 more than Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine who raised $564,270.00.
Withdrawal
On April 15, 2009, Cagle withdrew from the governor's race, citing a degenerative spinal condition and unspecified nerve and bone problems that required surgical treatment.He ran for and won re-election as lieutenant governor instead.
Family and personal life
Cagle counts his family as his single greatest accomplishment and most important priority in life. He is married to his high school sweetheart Nita, and they are the parents of three sons, Jared, Grant, and Carter. The Cagles live in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia where they are active members of Blackshear Place Baptist Church.Electoral history
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"Lieutenant Governor Primary Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
Georgia statewide elections, 2006
The Georgia statewide elections were held on November 7, 2006. The primary election was held on July 18. Contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote were decided in a runoff election on August 8....
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |227,968
| |56%
|
| |Ralph Reed
| align="right" |178,790
| |44%
|
|-
|2010
Georgia statewide elections, 2010
The Georgia Statewide executive officer elections of 2010 will be held on November 2, 2010. The primary elections were held on July 20. Primary contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote will be decided in a runoff election on August 10.Republicans currently hold five of...
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |525,287
| |100%
|
| |(no candidate)
| align="right" |0
| |0%
|
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
Lieutenant Governor General Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Libertarian
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
Georgia statewide elections, 2006
The Georgia statewide elections were held on November 7, 2006. The primary election was held on July 18. Contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote were decided in a runoff election on August 8....
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,134,517
| |54.1%
|
| |Jim Martin
| align="right" |887,506
| |42.3%
|
| |Allen Buckley
| align="right" |75,673
| |3.6%
|
|-
|2010
Georgia statewide elections, 2010
The Georgia Statewide executive officer elections of 2010 will be held on November 2, 2010. The primary elections were held on July 20. Primary contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote will be decided in a runoff election on August 10.Republicans currently hold five of...
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,403,977
| |54.7%
|
| |Carol Porter
| align="right" |1,074,624
| |41.9%
|
| |Dan Barber
| align="right" |88,746
| |3.5%
|
External links
- Official Lieutenant Governor Website
- Casey Cagle for Governor Campaign Website
- Project Vote Smart: Casey Cagle
Lowell S. "Casey" Cagle (born January 12, 1966) is an American politician currently serving as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, a conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
, and a former member of the General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
in the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In 2006, Cagle defeated political activist Ralph Reed
Ralph E. Reed, Jr.
Ralph Eugene Reed, Jr., is a conservative American political activist, best known as the first executive director of the Christian Coalition during the early 1990s. He sought the Republican nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia but lost the primary election on July 18, 2006,...
in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He later defeated Democrat Jim Martin November 7, 2006, to become the first Republican Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
in Georgia's history.
Early life
Cagle was born Lowell S. Casey Cagle in Gainesville, GeorgiaGainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
and raised by his single mother. He is a seventh generation resident of Hall County, Georgia. According to his legislative biography, he "attended eight different elementary schools by age six, but persevered to graduate from Hall County's public schools." After graduating from Johnson High School
Johnson High School (Gainesville, Georgia)
Robert Wood Johnson High School is a public high school located in Gainesville Georgia, USA, operated by Hall County Schools. The school serves 1,150 students in grades 9 to 12.- About Johnson :...
, Cagle attended Gainesville State College
Gainesville State College
Gainesville State College is a state college of the University System of Georgia serving northeast Georgia since 1964. The Gainesville State College Gainesville Campus, located 45 miles northeast of Atlanta and six miles southwest of downtown Gainesville in Oakwood, is on Georgia State Route 53...
and Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
to play football. After an injury ended his dreams of playing college football, Cagle entered the business world, starting his first venture, a small tuxedo shop in Gainesville, when he was just 20 years old.
Business career
After returning to Gainesville in 1986, Cagle started what would turn into a successful tuxedo rental company. He expanded the retail business into multiple locations throughout North Georgia. He founded Southern Heritage Bank in 1999 and served as its chairman until it merged into Gainesville Bank & Trust in 2004, and later SunTrust Banks in 2008. Cagle joined the board of directors of GB&T in 2005. According to filings, his estimated net worth is $3 million.State senate
In 1994, at age 28, Cagle ran for the Georgia SenateGeorgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
in Senate District 49 that included Hall County and parts of Dawson County
Dawson County, Georgia
Dawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1857 from Gilmer and Lumpkin counties. As of 2000, the population is 15,999. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,484...
and Forsyth County
Forsyth County, Georgia
Forsyth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat is Cumming, Georgia. Forsyth County is a part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
. He upset the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent, Jane Hemmer, and became the youngest member of the State Senate. He was re-elected five times and served from 1995 to 2006. During this time, Cagle served as Chairman of the State Senate Finance Committee, Vice Chairman of Science and Technology Committee, and as a member of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee.
Campaign for lieutenant governor
In early 2005, Cagle declared his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. He was opposed in the Republican primary by nationally known Christian conservativeChristian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
activist Ralph Reed
Ralph E. Reed, Jr.
Ralph Eugene Reed, Jr., is a conservative American political activist, best known as the first executive director of the Christian Coalition during the early 1990s. He sought the Republican nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia but lost the primary election on July 18, 2006,...
. Initially considered the underdog, Cagle emerged as a serious challenger to Reed. Reed accused Cagle of negative campaigning
Negative campaigning
Negative campaigning, also known more colloquially as "mudslinging", is trying to win an advantage by referring to negative aspects of an opponent or of a policy rather than emphasizing one's own positive attributes or preferred policies...
, blaming Cagle for unfavorable media attention arising from the federal investigation into the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
. On July 18, 2006, Cagle defeated Reed in the Republican Party primary with Cagle taking 56% of the vote to Reed's 44%. He then went on to successfully face former state representative Jim Martin
Jim Martin (Georgia politician)
James Francis "Jim" Martin is an American politician and former member of the Georgia General Assembly. He is a Democrat. Martin opposed incumbent U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss in the 2008 election...
in the general election and won with 54.1% to Martin's 42.3%.
Transportation
According to Cagle's official website, "the time for small ideas and quick fixes on transportation has passed. Instead, we should recognize that our state’s economic future rests on our courage to make real reform." Into 2009, transportation continues to be a major problem for Georgia and Metro Atlanta. According to ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
, Atlanta is the seventh-worst congestion "traffic trap" in the United States. In February 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation oversight board removed DOT Commissioner Gena Evans. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle spoke out against the move to fire Evans and said that "Every Georgian in this state should be outraged at what took place."
Campaign for governor
Cagle filed paperwork for the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for Governor of Georgia. According to documents filed with the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the Georgians for Cagle campaign raised $1,255,543.45 in the second half of 2008. This was nearly $700,000 more than Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine who raised $564,270.00.
Withdrawal
On April 15, 2009, Cagle withdrew from the governor's race, citing a degenerative spinal condition and unspecified nerve and bone problems that required surgical treatment.He ran for and won re-election as lieutenant governor instead.
Family and personal life
Cagle counts his family as his single greatest accomplishment and most important priority in life. He is married to his high school sweetheart Nita, and they are the parents of three sons, Jared, Grant, and Carter. The Cagles live in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia where they are active members of Blackshear Place Baptist Church.Electoral history
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"Lieutenant Governor Primary Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
Georgia statewide elections, 2006
The Georgia statewide elections were held on November 7, 2006. The primary election was held on July 18. Contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote were decided in a runoff election on August 8....
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |227,968
| |56%
|
| |Ralph Reed
| align="right" |178,790
| |44%
|
|-
|2010
Georgia statewide elections, 2010
The Georgia Statewide executive officer elections of 2010 will be held on November 2, 2010. The primary elections were held on July 20. Primary contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote will be decided in a runoff election on August 10.Republicans currently hold five of...
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |525,287
| |100%
|
| |(no candidate)
| align="right" |0
| |0%
|
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
Lieutenant Governor General Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Libertarian
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
Georgia statewide elections, 2006
The Georgia statewide elections were held on November 7, 2006. The primary election was held on July 18. Contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote were decided in a runoff election on August 8....
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,134,517
| |54.1%
|
| |Jim Martin
| align="right" |887,506
| |42.3%
|
| |Allen Buckley
| align="right" |75,673
| |3.6%
|
|-
|2010
Georgia statewide elections, 2010
The Georgia Statewide executive officer elections of 2010 will be held on November 2, 2010. The primary elections were held on July 20. Primary contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote will be decided in a runoff election on August 10.Republicans currently hold five of...
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,403,977
| |54.7%
|
| |Carol Porter
| align="right" |1,074,624
| |41.9%
|
| |Dan Barber
| align="right" |88,746
| |3.5%
|
External links
- Official Lieutenant Governor Website
- Casey Cagle for Governor Campaign Website
- Project Vote Smart: Casey Cagle
Lowell S. "Casey" Cagle (born January 12, 1966) is an American politician currently serving as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, a conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
, and a former member of the General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
in the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In 2006, Cagle defeated political activist Ralph Reed
Ralph E. Reed, Jr.
Ralph Eugene Reed, Jr., is a conservative American political activist, best known as the first executive director of the Christian Coalition during the early 1990s. He sought the Republican nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia but lost the primary election on July 18, 2006,...
in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He later defeated Democrat Jim Martin November 7, 2006, to become the first Republican Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the state, elected to a 4-year term by popular vote. Unlike some states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the state Governor....
in Georgia's history.
Early life
Cagle was born Lowell S. Casey Cagle in Gainesville, GeorgiaGainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
and raised by his single mother. He is a seventh generation resident of Hall County, Georgia. According to his legislative biography, he "attended eight different elementary schools by age six, but persevered to graduate from Hall County's public schools." After graduating from Johnson High School
Johnson High School (Gainesville, Georgia)
Robert Wood Johnson High School is a public high school located in Gainesville Georgia, USA, operated by Hall County Schools. The school serves 1,150 students in grades 9 to 12.- About Johnson :...
, Cagle attended Gainesville State College
Gainesville State College
Gainesville State College is a state college of the University System of Georgia serving northeast Georgia since 1964. The Gainesville State College Gainesville Campus, located 45 miles northeast of Atlanta and six miles southwest of downtown Gainesville in Oakwood, is on Georgia State Route 53...
and Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
to play football. After an injury ended his dreams of playing college football, Cagle entered the business world, starting his first venture, a small tuxedo shop in Gainesville, when he was just 20 years old.
Business career
After returning to Gainesville in 1986, Cagle started what would turn into a successful tuxedo rental company. He expanded the retail business into multiple locations throughout North Georgia. He founded Southern Heritage Bank in 1999 and served as its chairman until it merged into Gainesville Bank & Trust in 2004, and later SunTrust Banks in 2008. Cagle joined the board of directors of GB&T in 2005. According to filings, his estimated net worth is $3 million.State senate
In 1994, at age 28, Cagle ran for the Georgia SenateGeorgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
in Senate District 49 that included Hall County and parts of Dawson County
Dawson County, Georgia
Dawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1857 from Gilmer and Lumpkin counties. As of 2000, the population is 15,999. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,484...
and Forsyth County
Forsyth County, Georgia
Forsyth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat is Cumming, Georgia. Forsyth County is a part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
. He upset the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent, Jane Hemmer, and became the youngest member of the State Senate. He was re-elected five times and served from 1995 to 2006. During this time, Cagle served as Chairman of the State Senate Finance Committee, Vice Chairman of Science and Technology Committee, and as a member of the Natural Resources and the Environment Committee and the powerful Appropriations Committee.
Campaign for lieutenant governor
In early 2005, Cagle declared his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. He was opposed in the Republican primary by nationally known Christian conservativeChristian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
activist Ralph Reed
Ralph E. Reed, Jr.
Ralph Eugene Reed, Jr., is a conservative American political activist, best known as the first executive director of the Christian Coalition during the early 1990s. He sought the Republican nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia but lost the primary election on July 18, 2006,...
. Initially considered the underdog, Cagle emerged as a serious challenger to Reed. Reed accused Cagle of negative campaigning
Negative campaigning
Negative campaigning, also known more colloquially as "mudslinging", is trying to win an advantage by referring to negative aspects of an opponent or of a policy rather than emphasizing one's own positive attributes or preferred policies...
, blaming Cagle for unfavorable media attention arising from the federal investigation into the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
. On July 18, 2006, Cagle defeated Reed in the Republican Party primary with Cagle taking 56% of the vote to Reed's 44%. He then went on to successfully face former state representative Jim Martin
Jim Martin (Georgia politician)
James Francis "Jim" Martin is an American politician and former member of the Georgia General Assembly. He is a Democrat. Martin opposed incumbent U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss in the 2008 election...
in the general election and won with 54.1% to Martin's 42.3%.
Transportation
According to Cagle's official website, "the time for small ideas and quick fixes on transportation has passed. Instead, we should recognize that our state’s economic future rests on our courage to make real reform." Into 2009, transportation continues to be a major problem for Georgia and Metro Atlanta. According to ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
, Atlanta is the seventh-worst congestion "traffic trap" in the United States. In February 2009, the Georgia Department of Transportation oversight board removed DOT Commissioner Gena Evans. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle spoke out against the move to fire Evans and said that "Every Georgian in this state should be outraged at what took place."
Campaign for governor
Cagle filed paperwork for the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for Governor of Georgia. According to documents filed with the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the Georgians for Cagle campaign raised $1,255,543.45 in the second half of 2008. This was nearly $700,000 more than Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine who raised $564,270.00.
Withdrawal
On April 15, 2009, Cagle withdrew from the governor's race, citing a degenerative spinal condition and unspecified nerve and bone problems that required surgical treatment.He ran for and won re-election as lieutenant governor instead.
Family and personal life
Cagle counts his family as his single greatest accomplishment and most important priority in life. He is married to his high school sweetheart Nita, and they are the parents of three sons, Jared, Grant, and Carter. The Cagles live in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia where they are active members of Blackshear Place Baptist Church.Electoral history
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"Lieutenant Governor Primary Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
Georgia statewide elections, 2006
The Georgia statewide elections were held on November 7, 2006. The primary election was held on July 18. Contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote were decided in a runoff election on August 8....
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |227,968
| |56%
|
| |Ralph Reed
| align="right" |178,790
| |44%
|
|-
|2010
Georgia statewide elections, 2010
The Georgia Statewide executive officer elections of 2010 will be held on November 2, 2010. The primary elections were held on July 20. Primary contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote will be decided in a runoff election on August 10.Republicans currently hold five of...
|Primary
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |525,287
| |100%
|
| |(no candidate)
| align="right" |0
| |0%
|
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
Lieutenant Governor General Election Results
!|Year
!|Election
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Libertarian
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|2006
Georgia statewide elections, 2006
The Georgia statewide elections were held on November 7, 2006. The primary election was held on July 18. Contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote were decided in a runoff election on August 8....
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,134,517
| |54.1%
|
| |Jim Martin
| align="right" |887,506
| |42.3%
|
| |Allen Buckley
| align="right" |75,673
| |3.6%
|
|-
|2010
Georgia statewide elections, 2010
The Georgia Statewide executive officer elections of 2010 will be held on November 2, 2010. The primary elections were held on July 20. Primary contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote will be decided in a runoff election on August 10.Republicans currently hold five of...
|General
|
| |Casey Cagle
| align="right" |1,403,977
| |54.7%
|
| |Carol Porter
| align="right" |1,074,624
| |41.9%
|
| |Dan Barber
| align="right" |88,746
| |3.5%
|