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Allen praises Kilgore's record on crime, gangs
Criticism of Kaine on the same issues draws a sharp reply |
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BY TYLER WHITLEY
In a statement yesterday, the Republican senator said Kilgore is "a lifelong champion of law enforcement and victims' rights." As for Kilgore's gubernatorial opponent, Timothy M. Kaine "has no discernible record of fighting gang activity in Virginia," Allen said. Kaine, a Democrat, and Kilgore, a Republican, are running for governor, along with state Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr. of Winchester. Potts, a Republican, is running as an independent. On Monday, Kilgore issued proposed anti-gang legislation that included expanding the death penalty to include the killer of a witness and someone who orders someone else to commit a murder. Kaine derided the package, saying that the number of Virginia localities reporting the presence of youth gangs went up 220 percent, from 10 to 32, when Kilgore was secretary of public safety from 1994 to 1996. Allen was governor from 1994 to 1998. He appointed Kilgore as his public safety secretary. Allen, as did the Kilgore campaign, said the apparent number of youth gangs increased because he and Kilgore "increased the scrutiny and areas that were surveyed for gang activity. Naturally, when one heightens awareness of a certain type of crime, the initial figures grow rapidly." Allen said Kaine should "keep his petty partisan shots to himself." From Washington, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said Allen has voted against increased funding for the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program in each of the past three years, so he should watch whom he is criticizing. "Can George Allen really take the high road when it comes to fighting crime in Virginia?" a news release by the committee's communications director Phil Singer asked. Allen, who is running for re-election to the Senate next year, has promised to campaign for Kilgore. It would be a feather in his cap if Kilgore wins the election. Allen said, "Tim Kaine has even refused to take a position on Jerry's proposal to extend the death penalty." Kaine has said he is opposed to the death penalty on religious grounds but would uphold the law of Virginia. Asked whether Kaine would sign or veto additional death penalty crimes, spokeswoman Delacey Skinner said "that is a hypothetical. He will enforce the law as it stands today." Meanwhile, the National Right to Life Committee, an anti-abortion group, endorsed Kilgore. Kilgore opposes abortions except in the event of rape or incest or when the life of the mother is at stake. Kaine, who is a Catholic, says he has a faith-based opposition to abortion but will enforce Virginia's laws. Carol Tobias, political director of the National Right to Life Committee, questioned Kaine's sincerity on the issue. |