Photos: Tim Kaine Campaigns in Fort Hunt

Former Virginia governor and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine visited small business owners in Fort Hunt Wednesday morning as part of his campaign.

Kaine made stops at the Mount Vernon Farmers Market, Hollin Hall Automotive, Hollin Hall Pastry Shop, and the Variety Store, speaking with local business owners and constituents.

“At the gas station I learned what it’s like to run a small business for 51 years,” Kaine said of Hollin Hall Automotive. “It’s a different kind of business than the one I opened with my dad. There are a lot of similarities in the number of employees and the hard work of Ruth, the owner, and her son Tom.”

Kaine has hosted many events in Fort Hunt and said it was “good to reconnect” with local residents.

“I’ve been here a bunch,” he said. “Again, having key campaign staffers that live in the neighborhood, they tell me what the good spots are. People are very supportive.”

Kaine, a strong supporter of improving infrastructure, called the release of $180 million to widen Route 1 near Fort Belvoir “fantastic.”

“For important projects that have national significance, and certainly a project that serves a military installation like Fort Belvoir has national significance, we have to have a federal government and a state government that’s willing to be a transportation investor,” Kaine said. “Those who say they want to slash and cut the budget, they would weaken our system by weakening our infrastructure. I believe we need to be investing more in infrastructure.”

Kaine is running against former governor and former U.S. Sen. George Allen, a Republican. Allen, who lives in the area, was also campaigning in the vicinity Wednesday, speaking to the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce.

In the money race, Allen has taken in $42,200 from his neighbors in Fort Hunt during this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Kaine has taken in $24,400 in Fort Hunt during the same time period, up to July 9. The contributions counted by the Center for Responsive Politics are only those from residents donating $200 or more to

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