A quieter but no less hotly contested race has gone nearly unnoticed amid the hoopla over Casey-Rendell: that of lieutenant governor. No longer considered a road to nowhere, the last two lieutenant governors found themselves sitting in the big chair before they were through. Mark Singel took over when Gov. Bob Casey Sr. fell ill, and Mark Schweiker became governor when Tom Ridge left for his Homeland Security cabinet post.

In Pennsylvania, although gubernatorial candidates can pick running mates, the lieutenant governor’s election is wholly separate from that of governor, with the voters essentially deciding who pairs up with whom in Harrisburg in the fall. While Bob Casey has picked state senator and kindred spirit Jack Wagner from Allegheny County as his running mate, there’s no guarantee Wagner will win even if Casey does. Ed Rendell has eschewed picking a running mate, saying he’ll let the voters decide. And it’s quite a decision to make, with nine candidates vying for the state’s second chair on the Democratic side. Republican candidate and Attorney General Mike Fisher has tapped state Sen. Jane Earll as his running mate, but since they’re running unopposed in the primary, we’ll save them for later. The action in this race is on the Democratic side. Here’s a quick roundup:

Jack Wagner - state senator, Allegheny County

A former Pittsburgh City Councilman, Wagner is a decorated Marine Corps veteran who has served in the Senate since 1994. His pro-life stance and popularity in the western part of the state made him an attractive running mate for Bob Casey Jr. Like Casey, his focus is on early childhood education and lower prescription drug costs for seniors.

Catherine Baker Knoll

Former state treasurer and arguably the best known of the candidates. First elected in 1989, she was re-elected four years later with the largest number of votes ever cast for a Democrat in a statewide election. As treasurer, she started Pa.’s Tuition Account and Student Loan programs. The knock on her is her age (71) and a bond scandal during her tenure as treasurer. While held blameless personally, the corruption tainted her office.

Allen Kukovich - state senator, Westmoreland County

A tireless campaigner, Kukovich has been running hard for lieutenant governor for nearly a year. Shortly after being elected to the statehouse in 1977, Kukovich attempted to reform the state Ethics Act and voted against his own pay raise. His landmark legislation is the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides health insurance to 100,000 uninsured Pennsylvania children.

John Lawless - state representative, Montgomery County

Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Democrat John Lawless has played musical chairs in Harrisburg since his first election in 1990. Besides switching parties, he sponsored legislation preventing state prisoners from receiving pornographic materials while serving time and won passage of a bill calling for better hygiene at petting zoos in light of dangers to children from unsanitary conditions. A maverick, Lawless is known for speaking his mind without regard for politics.

Thaddeus Kirkland - state representative, Delaware County

An ordained Baptist minister, Kirkland was first elected in 1993, representing the City of Chester. He’s an advocate for early childhood education, calls for an increase in state funding for schools, and favors a return of prayer in the classroom. He’s against gambling and denounces the ideas of slot machines at racetracks and riverboat gambling.

Ron Williams - Wyoming County commissioner

Currently serving a fourth consecutive term as county commissioner, Williams was nominated by his local colleagues for Pennsylvania Commissioner of the Year in 1993. He’s responsible for the county’s emergency services and 911 communications center. An Army vet, Williams was a police officer in Falls Township and served as chief of police of Clarks Green Borough before being elected commissioner.

Edward Truax

A Harrisburg artist and writer, Truax says his first act as lieutenant governor would be to seek pardons for thousands of nonviolent drug offenders. He frequently references his website, www.truax4ltgov.com. At a forum last Friday, Truax said, “For the love of God, look at my website before you vote against me.” You should. There you will find praises for anti-government activist Randy Weaver of Ruby Ridge fame and Truax’s long, stream-of-consciousness diatribes on the state of the state.

J. David Woodard

Woodard is a 33-year-old professor at the Community College of Allegheny County. As a teacher, improving public education is a primary focus of his campaign. Woodard opposes charter schools on the grounds that they drain funding from existing public schools.

Ron Panza - Greentree Borough Councilman

So who is Ron Panza and why does he want to be lieutenant governor? Even City Paper doesn’t know, because he has no visible campaign, no website and no means of contacting him other than e-mail. Ron, if you’re out there, give us a call.