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Ask the Candidates: Tim Kaine and George Allen

Patch is collecting reader questions to be answered by candidates in Virginia's U.S. Senate race.

Are you concerned about the economy? What about sequestration or federal government cutbacks? Are you worried about the environment? Traffic in Northern Virginia? The cost of health care?

Now is your chance to step up to the podium and get your questions answered.

As we approach November's election, we will be asking U.S. Senate candidates George Allen and Tim Kaine — former Virginia governors engaged in one of the closest Senate races in the country — to answer a Patch candidates' survey. The survey will be driven by questions from you.

You can submit your questions in the comments section below this article, or email them to lauren.sausser@patch.com or erica.hendry@patch.com.

The deadline to submit a question is 11:59 p.m. Sept. 24. We'll review all the submissions, pass questions along to the candidates and come back with the answers in October.

Michelle Limerick Gill September 18, 2012 at 12:01 pm
My question is this. Why do all candidates work around a question instead of just giving a straight up honest answer?
Catherine Smith September 18, 2012 at 01:34 pm
For each of them: What have you done in your political careers that has made you the most proud?
Carla Meissner September 18, 2012 at 02:33 pm
For Mr. Tim Kaine:
What is your opinion on the increase of drug use in high schools today and what would you do againts this?
Tony Jordan September 18, 2012 at 03:36 pm
For both candidates: There has been much discussion of accessing Virginia's offshore oceans as a good source for energy. Do you favor oil exploration or wind farms or both or neither and what legislation would you advocate to implement these objectives?
VA_in_VA September 18, 2012 at 03:42 pm
Mr Allen:
The religious right is destroying the chances of my Republican Party from winning any national office. The combative and intolerant right wing no longer believes in any kind of comprise that has previously allowed moderate republican leaders such as Robert Dole or H W Bush to be successful. What will you do to actual affect real government and compromise with the opposition?
Groovis Maximus September 18, 2012 at 05:33 pm
for both candidates:
What committee appointments would you seek and why? Which Senator in recent history (since 1970 or so) do you most admire and why? What characteristics of that Senator would you emulate? For George Allen: There seems to be a Republican assault on Federal workers, except for members of the military. You are seeking to represent the State of Virginia - home to more than 300,000 Federal workers. What is your opinion of the Federal workforce and how will you serve this set of constituents in the Senate?
EL September 18, 2012 at 06:54 pm
With science literacy declining in respect to the rest of our first world partners, what methods would you use to further science and technology education in our schools? What do you see as the greatest roadblock in promoting Critical Thinking in the youth of today?
Uncle Smartypants September 18, 2012 at 07:10 pm
For George Allen:
Do you remember when you said "This fellow here over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent... Let's give a welcome to Macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." You said it six years ago to S.R. Sidarth, a young man who, unlike you, was actually born and raised right here in Virginia. You also included a confedate flag in you first state-wide TV commercial (1993) and wore a confederate flag pin for your senior picture at super swanky Palos Verdes HS in L.A. My question: Do you think a racist can fairly represent Virginia in the United States Senate?
Charles September 18, 2012 at 07:36 pm
@RestonPatch yes. Why does gas cost so much different in different counties. 3.87 in Reston 3.69 in manassas. Thats a huge difference
VA_in_VA September 18, 2012 at 08:33 pm
Well, heck I can answer this one. Why do the stations charge more in Reston than in Manassas?
Simple, because they can.
Dave Webster September 19, 2012 at 03:11 am
What is your policy on the Palestinian right of return?
Dave Webster September 19, 2012 at 11:07 am
Charles,
Many times differences in gas prices are the result of zone pricing by the gas companies in setting prices they charge for the gas they sell to station owners. Zone pricing is the pricing of gasoline based on a complex weighting of factors, such as the relative affluence of an area, number of competing stations, number of vehicles, average traffic flow, population density, and geographic characteristics.
Barbara Glakas September 19, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Gov. Allen,
In 2006, when you were a Senator, the “Navy Times” reported that Sen. John Kerry offered a budget amendment that would have blocked a Bush administration proposal to increase health care fees and co-payments for military retirees under age 65 who are covered by TRICARE. The amendment would have put more money into TRICARE and would have been paid for by closing tax loopholes. You voted against the amendment. Why?
erghammer September 20, 2012 at 12:08 pm
What is a "real Virginian"? What is a "macaca"? Can a macaca be a real Virginian? If not, why not?
Elaine September 21, 2012 at 05:26 pm
How do you plan to protect consumers when the minimum competency from the builders/construction workers required by VA Dpor does not guarantee that the roofers know how to repair roofs or kitchen contractors don't know how design and install kitchen cabinets? From the dpor website: "DPOR issues professional credentials—licenses, certificates or registrations—in the least intrusive, least burdensome and most efficient way. Our goal is to ensure the minimum competency necessary to practice without harming the public, not to enhance professional stature or limit competition by keeping newcomers out. Policy boards determine the minimum standards necessary to enter a profession, and qualify applicants based on a combination of education, experience and examination."
The homeowners have no leverage to make a contractor to finish a project or correct remidies.
Tom Hanton September 21, 2012 at 06:32 pm
And local taxes......
Tom Hanton September 21, 2012 at 06:33 pm
Certainly you have a more intelligent question to ask?
Joe Quinn September 21, 2012 at 08:21 pm
I have two questions for each candidate regarding energy issues. Broadly, how do you plan to support domestic oil and energy production? And specifically, if elected, will you help push the Keystone pipeline forward immediately?
Alejandro Beltran September 25, 2012 at 01:11 am
Senator Allen, in 1996 you were the only governor in the country who stayed true to republican principles and refused almost $7 million in federal education funds offered to Virginia through Bill Clinton's Goals 2000 initiative. As a U.S senator will you remain faithful to Jeffersonian ideals and fight against federal intrusion into state education matters through redistribution of wealth?

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