VA candidate Q-and-A: Part III

I’ve got a lot of different stuff on my iPod right now. The
Allman Brothers and Little Feat are two all-time favorites.

Robert F. McDonnell (R): To relax and take a break from
campaigning I enjoy spending time at home with my family. My sons and I will go
out back and throw the football. I try to squeeze in a short workout in the
morning if I don’t start campaigning too early. I am most proud of my kids and
everything they have accomplished. It’s very exciting that my sons are now 18
so all five of my kids will be able to vote for me this election. Unfortunately,
I don’t have much time to read right now, but I am reading His Excellency by
Joseph Ellis — a book about George Washington. I love watching Notre Dame
football games — my alma mater — on TV. Last Saturday I was able to catch the
game on my laptop while we drove up to Northern Virginia.

What Bob wanted to be when he grew up: A scientist

Favorite subject: Math

Q: The preservation of the Chesapeake Bay is a five-state
problem. In the past, Virginia has been one of the more reluctant states to
help fund programs that would help the bay. As governor, would you put a
greater emphasis on maintaining and helping the Chesapeake?

Deeds: The Chesapeake Bay is one of the commonwealth’s
greatest natural treasures that must be preserved for future generations. The
federal government has set milestones for pollution reduction through the executive order signed by President Obama earlier this year alongside Gov. Kaine and the bipartisan coalition of bay-state leaders.

Virginia must take a balanced approach to meet these
milestones. That means being proactive and devoting additional resources to the bay cleanup effort, while making sure that farmers and homeowners in the bay
watershed can continue to prosper and live the American Dream.

Specifically, I would seek additional state funding for best
management practices that reduce runoff pollution, incentives for property
owners to repair or replace failing septic systems that pollute local
waterways, and upgrades to wastewater treatment plants, and I would
aggressively support local pilot projects and partnerships aimed at improving
water quality. And I will continue to engage with other bay states and the
federal government to coordinate cleanup efforts in a responsible and bipartisan
fashion.

McDonnell: The Chesapeake Bay is a marvelous estuary and one
of our nation’s greatest natural resources. We must ensure that we are
responsible stewards so that future generations may enjoy it as we have. The bay has an important role in our nation’s and our commonwealth’s founding. It
provides a great source of recreation for Virginians and many others, and
provides food, jobs and significant economic opportunities in the form of
ecotourism.

Bob McDonnell is committed to working with the other
Chesapeake Bay states to continue responsible policies to protect and improve
the health of the bay, including making every effort to meet the goals for the
nutrient reduction outlined in the Chesapeake Bay agreement signed in 2000. We
must continue to find sustainable funding for reducing nitrogen levels in the bay. While wastewater treatment investments have helped to reduce point source
pollution, we must be more creative in implementing the most effective BMPs to
reduce nonpoint source pollution. We should promote the creation of natural and
artificial oyster reefs, and work with all interested parties to expand
aquaculture in appropriate areas.

Kemper has conducted Q-and-As with presidential candidates
Obama, McCain and Clinton, as well as with Tiger Woods, former Homeland
Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Andre Agassi and
CNN’s Ed Henry, to name of few.