EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second of two articles looking at the records of the major-party candidates for lieutenant governor.

ATLANTA - When Casey Cagle decided to run for state Senate at age 28, he was seeking a seat in Hall County, which had never sent a Republican to the upper chamber.

He eventually beat the incumbent and was re-elected five times.

A self-imposed term limit left Mr. Cagle open to run for his party's 2006 nomination for lieutenant governor.

This time, he would be entering the ring against Ralph Reed, a nationally known leader of the religious conservative movement who had once helmed the GOP in Georgia.

"I thought, 'Man, if we could just raise a million dollars and get on TV, we just might win this thing,'" Mr. Cagle told supporters after smashing Mr. Reed in the June primary.

What had begun as a guerilla campaign had ended with Mr. Cagle as the victor once again, this time with a chance to be favored for the first time.

However, a recent poll by InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion showed the race as a dead heat. Also, the primary race that gave Mr. Cagle a win on his political record pointed to some chinks in his legislative record that could become useful fodder for former Human Resources Commissioner Jim Martin, his Democratic opponent in November's election.

So far, the race for the state's second-ranking position has been a relatively quiet campaign, overshadowed by the slugfest between Gov. Sonny Perdue and his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor. But when the race emerges from the shadows, both candidates likely will face questions about their records and legacies in public life. This is a look at Mr. Cagle's.

Reliably conservative

On most, if not all issues, Mr. Cagle's voting record has been reliably conservative. For example, he has angered environmentalists by voting to strike down laws he says are too burdensome for property owners or businesses, and he has consistently supported cutting taxes and restraining the growth of government.

"He has been a voice for conservatism, for less government, lower taxes," said Sen. Bill Hamrick, a Carrollton Republican who endorsed Mr. Cagle in his race against Mr. Reed.

However, Mr. Cagle's conservatism has not always meshed well with the goals of the state's Republican leaders.

One of the most striking examples of this was shortly after Mr. Perdue's election in 2003.

Trying to work the state out of a budget crisis, Mr. Perdue unveiled a budget that included increasing taxes on some items, such as cigarettes. Several fiscal conservatives, including Mr. Cagle, revolted.

"I think he was the leader in bringing people back to the principle of lower taxes, less government," Mr. Hamrick said. "He was very vocal."

Mr. Perdue was eventually forced to reduce the tax increases, but Mr. Cagle still opposed the measure. Even some legislators who consider themselves fiscally conservative still signed on.

"It's one of those bills where you have to balance the good and the bad and make a decision," said Sen. Tim Golden, D-Valdosta, who voted for the bill because he was interested in securing Medicaid funding he thought important to his constituents.

Mr. Cagle was also one of several members of the Senate who broke with the party's leadership over House Bill 218, a measure that would have shrouded in secrecy the state's negotiations with companies looking to come to Georgia.

As for Mr. Cagle's ability to reach across the aisle, even Mr. Golden, who considers Mr. Martin a friend, said Mr. Cagle has at least the potential to be able to work with Democrats.

"Casey's been someone, though, that's been approachable and someone I can work with," Mr. Golden said.

Some criticism

Mr. Cagle's record does not draw universal applause on all points. Mr. Reed made some aspects of that record a centerpiece of often-piercing ads.

One charge was that Mr. Cagle supported a bill that dealt with private developers and eminent domain, the government's power to seize private property while giving the owner fair-market value.

Mr. Reed charged that the bill would have expanded the power of eminent domain by allowing cities and counties to use it on behalf of developers. However, Mr. Cagle said the bill was concerned with private developers building public facilities; in other words, eminent domain couldn't have been used to make way for a Wal-Mart.

After the U.S. Supreme Court case handed down a ruling that seemed to broaden the use of eminent domain, Mr. Cagle joined with other Republicans and supported legislation and an amendment to the state constitution limiting the practice.

Mr. Reed also slammed Mr. Cagle for voting on financial legislation while serving on bank boards.

Mr. Cagle said the votes didn't violate the Senate's ethics rules because his institution was no more likely to benefit than any other. It was the equivalent of a doctor, for example, voting on malpractice legislation.

"And I have never cast a vote that I would personally benefit from," he said. "Never."

Reach Brandon Larrabee at (404) 681-1701 or brandon.larrabee@morris.com.