Atlanata Journal-Constitution - Call for Reform, Ethics Shape Lt. Gov. Race

News Article

By April Hunt

A novice Democrat is making ethics and a call for reform the main issues in trying to unseat the Republican lieutenant governor.

Carol Porter, making her first run for public office, includes incumbent Casey Cagle in her complaints about questionable moves, such as repealing a tax relief grant -- thus costing property owners $300 or more in yearly taxes -- while stumping about cutting taxes overall.

"My voters, my constituents, my taxpayers are tapped out and can't afford the doublespeak and the waste," Porter said. "It's so corrupt what they do up there (in the Gold Dome). That's what I'm running to get rid of."

Cagle, meanwhile, said he is focusing on ways to encourage more private industry in the state to create more jobs. He advocates reducing government regulation as key to spurring the economy.

"Clearly, priority one is keeping and making Georgia the most economically viable state in the nation," Cagle said. "We have to create an environment to take advantage of the opportunities that lie within."

Recent polls show Cagle well ahead of Porter, with 47 percent to 52 percent of the vote to her 28 percent to 33 percent. Libertarian Dan Barber has carved out between 5 percent and 8 percent of the votes.

But a striking 20 percent of voters remain undecided. That question mark and the $400,000 that Porter reported having on hand in her Sept. 30 campaign disclosure could mean more tension in the race than first appears.

That tension could grow in the final weeks of the campaign now that both candidates have begun airing TV ads statewide.

Porter's first ad mostly introduces her to voters. She said new ads will begin appearing later this week, promising at least one will "call out" Cagle for past behavior.

Cagle, who has more reach with $1.2 million on hand, positions himself as a champion of education in his first ad. More topic-focused ads are expected to follow.

Kerwin Swint, a political science professor at Kennesaw State University, said the low visibility of the race could mean the ads finally put both candidates on voters' radar.

Those already paying attention to cuts in local education "are going to choke on their coffee" at the message of Cagle's ad, Swint said, though probably not be so offended as to vote against him. In the ad, Cagle touts himself as a champion of education but does not note he was among leaders who furloughed teachers earlier this year.

"Porter's name recognition is really low, and that's what's driving that undecided number," Swint said. "She has the right message, but the question is whether she has enough money to really start a conversation and get it out to voters."

The messages are different, even if the issues aren't. Both major-party candidates are focused on jobs and believe improving the state's education system and transportation network and fixing water woes are three ways to get there.

Porter trumpets her work helping her husband, DuBose Porter, research issues as the experience needed to see how insiders operate. Her husband is the outgoing leader of the state House Democrats who made an unsuccessful run this year for the party's nomination as governor.

She has called for less testing in lower grades and for school systems to partner with technical and community colleges. Students who graduate should be ready to "earn or learn," either entering the work force with a skill or heading to college for more education.

"We don't have reliable water or decent transportation, and we're in the bottom of education. None of that is going to grow our economy," Porter said. "It's a question of prioritizing our budget and making wise decisions."

Cagle points to a possible special 1-cent sales tax, to be decided by voters in districts in 2012, as a success in helping solve the state's transportation problems. He also embraces "HOT lanes," which charge different tolls depending on traffic, as another potential solution.

He also advocates high schools partnering with technical colleges to boost job growth and education, and he also wants to expand charter schools as an option to encourage more local control over education.

"Education and jobs go hand in hand," Cagle said. "We need real reform to our education system if we want to see success."

Barber has called for eventually eliminating the public school system by expanding charter schools and giving tax refunds for tuition at private schools. He also wants the state to remove all regulations on businesses in the state as the way to improve the state's economy.

"We are standing in the way of a free market. No wonder there are no jobs," Barber said.

Barber had $1,046 on hand for the final weeks of the race, having spent just $54 of the money he had raised.

Lieutenant governor

The second-highest elected official in the state, the lieutenant governor is also president of the state Senate and presides over the chamber. The holder of the job is also responsible for choosing the chairman of each Senate committee and oversees the committee that determines Senate committee membership. The lieutenant governor takes over the power of governor if the governor is incapacitated. If the governor dies or cannot fulfill that office's duties, the lieutenant governor serves the governor's unexpired term.

Casey Cagle

Republican incumbent

Age: 44

Education: Johnson High School; attended Georgia Southern University

Profession: Businessman

Political experience: Georgia Senate, 1995-2007; lieutenant governor, 2007-present

Military experience: None

Civic experience: Active member of Blackshear Place Baptist Church

Family status: Married to Nita Cagle for 23 years; three sons: Jared, Grant, Carter.

Carol Porter

Democratic challenger

Age: 51

Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology, University of Georgia

Profession: General manager of nine newspapers

Political experience: First run for public office

Military experience: None

Civic experience: Administrative board member and worship committee member of First United Methodist Church of Dublin, where she is also a Sunday school teacher. Founder of local Boys & Girls Club. Member, Erin Garden Club, Dublin Service League and Moms in Touch prayer group. Member of Leadership Georgia Class of 1985. Former Cub Scout pack leader and past president of parent association at her sons' school.

Family status: Married for more than 26 years to DuBose Porter, with whom she has raised four Eagle Scout sons: Stephen, Guyton, Asa and Inman.

Dan Barber

Libertarian challenger

Age: 46

Education: Attended College of the Desert, Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Profession: Auto mechanic and owner of auto repair business in Sugar Hill. Also owns three tax-preparing businesses.

Political experience: First run for public office

Military experience: None

Civic experience: Past president, Fellowship of Reason Atlanta; member and leader, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Gwinnett; member, PowerCore networking group.

Family status: Wife, Theresa; two children in college: 21-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter.

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