Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a possible Republican candidate for governor in 2010, now says he is willing to let the state Senate vote on Sunday package store sales of liquor.

Cagle, the Senate's president, made the statement in a letter to Georgians who contacted his office about legislation that would let voters decide whether to allow Sunday sales. Just under 2,000 letters were sent out in the past week.

Cagle has been viewed as a stumbling block on the issue. The Senate has stalled Sunday sales legislation the past two General Assembly sessions.

"As a Georgian with strong religious beliefs, I oppose Sunday sales of alcohol for individual religious reasons," Cagle wrote. "However, I recognize we live in a democracy where the wishes of the majority must be respected."

Later in the letter, he wrote, "While I would vote against such a change at the ballot box, I do not believe the Legislature should deny the voters a chance to make a choice for themselves and their community."

Previously, Cagle spokeswoman Jaillene Hunter blamed the Senate's inaction on a lack of public interest.

"There simply has not been any kind of broad expression of support for a vote on Sunday sales this year from Senate members or from the citizens of our state," she said.

More than 50,000 people signed an online petition during the 2008 session supporting Sunday sales.

Although the Sunday package store bill never got a committee hearing this session, Cagle allowed two votes on bills aimed at giving Gwinnett County the right to sell beer on Sundays at its new baseball stadium.

When asked about Cagle's letter, Hunter said, "The lieutenant governor will allow a floor vote on a Sunday sales referendum if the members of the Senate wish to do so. If there is not support from the membership of the Senate, he does not plan to force the issue."

Jim Tudor, a lobbyist for the convenience store industry, which supports Sunday sales, said he hopes the measure will get a vote next year. "We certainly believe Georgians should have that right [to vote] and look forward to working with the lieutenant governor in the upcoming session so that Georgians get it," he said.