| Casey Cagle | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2007 |
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| Governor | Sonny Perdue |
| Preceded by | Mark Taylor |
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49th District of the Georgia State Senate
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| In office January 1995 – January 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Jane R. Hemmer (D) |
| Succeeded by | Lee Hawkins (R) |
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| Born | January 12, 1966 Gainesville, Georgia, U.S.A. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Nita Cagle |
| Occupation | Businessman Banker Entrepreneur |
| Religion | Baptist [13] |
| Website | Casey Cagle for Lt. Governor |
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.[1] He later defeated Democrat Jim Martin November 7, 2006, to become the first Republican Lieutenant Governor in Georgia's history.
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Early life
Cagle was born Lowell S. Casey Cagle in Gainesville, Georgia 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."[2] 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.[3]
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 Senate 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 1995-2006. 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 conservative 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.[4] On July 18, 2006, Cagle defeated Reed in the Republican Party primary with Cagle taking 56% of the vote to Reed's 44%.[5] 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%.[6]
Work as lieutenant governor
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 Forbes, Atlanta is the seventh-worst congestion "traffic trap" in the United States.[7] 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."[8]
Campaign for governor
Cagle filed paperwork for the Republican nomination for Georgia's governor. 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.[9][10]
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.[11] He will run for 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 proud parents of three sons, Jared, Grant, and Carter. The Cagles currently live in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia where they are active members of Blackshear Place Baptist Church.[12]
References
- ^ [1] Ralph Reed Loses Georgia Primary Race http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/us/19georgia.html
- ^ [2] Casey Cagle Legislative Biography http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/senate/cagleprintbio.pdf
- ^ [3] Official Casey Cagle Biography http://ltgov.georgia.gov/00/channel_createdate/0,2095,2199618_80772598,00.html
- ^ [4] Ralph Reed / Jack Abramoff Indian Lobbying Scandal http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1121969,00.html
- ^ [5] 2006 Primary Election Results http://www.sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2006_0718/0000220.htm
- ^ [6] 2006 General Election Results http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2006_1107/005.htm
- ^ [7] America's Worst Traffic Traps http://www.forbes.com/2007/06/11/traffic-highways-interstates-biz-logistics_cx_rm_0611traffic.html
- ^ [8] DOT Boss Fired, Cagle Blasts Board http://www.beaconcast.com/articles/20090224
- ^ [9] Georgians for Cagle December 2008 Financial Report http://ethics.georgia.gov/Reports/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=315&FilerID=C2008000872&CDRID=20624
- ^ [10] Oxendine Work for Georgia December 2008 Financial Report http://ethics.georgia.gov/Reports/Campaign/Campaign_ReportOptions.aspx?NameID=448&FilerID=C2008000305&CDRID=20671
- ^ [11]Cagle’s statement: ‘I’ve been diagnosed with a degenerative spinal condition’ http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/04/15/cagles-statement-ive-been-diagnosed-with-a-degenerative-spinal-condition/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway
- ^ [12] Casey Cagle Official Biography http://ltgov.georgia.gov/00/channel_createdate/0,2095,2199618_80772598,00.html
External links
- Official Lieutenant Governor Website
- Casey Cagle for Governor Campaign Website
- Project Vote Smart: Casey Cagle
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mark Taylor (D) |
Lieutenant Governor of Georgia 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
| Georgia Senate | ||
| Preceded by Jane Reynolds Hemmer (D) |
Georgia State Senator from 49th district January 1995 – January 2007 |
Succeeded by Lee Hawkins (R) |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Richard Codey |
United States order of precedence as of 2007[update] |
Succeeded by Michael Fedele |
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