Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was presented the Georgia Municipal Association’s Georgia Key Citizen Award on Sunday for his exemplary contributions to cities and the state.

Jim Higdon, the municipal association’s executive director, presented the award to Cagle, a Chestnut Mountain Republican, during the association’s annual convention in Savannah. Higdon lauded Cagle for his willingness to search for answers to tough problems, such as the public policy challenges facing the state, as well as his ability to build consensus.

"He believes that local elected officials — the officials who are closest to the citizens and know their communities better than anyone else — should be able to determine local service priorities and how those services should be funded," Higdon said. "He views the state’s relationship with cities as one of a partner, not a parent."

Higdon also said that as director of the Georgia Municipal Association, a nonprofit organization that provides legislative advocacy and educational services to 500 cities, he observed Cagle’s commitment to improving education.

"He is committed to doing more for education, because he understands that the key to bringing good-paying jobs to our cities and our state in today’s global economy is having a well-educated and well-trained work force," Higdon said.

Cagle began his public service career in 1994 when he was elected to the state Senate. In 2006, he was elected lieutenant governor.

Past recipients of the Georgia Key Citizen Award include former President Jimmy Carter, former Gov. Joe Frank Harris, former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, former Speaker of the House Tom Murphy and former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Zell Miller.