Wagner wants multiple debates with Bolling

Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Jody Wagner this week challenged incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling to a series of monthly debates to be held throughout Virginia.

Wagner, a former state finance secretary from Virginia Beach, sent a letter to Bolling requesting the debates, her campaign said in an e-mail.

Responding to a Virginian-Pilot request, a spokesman for Bolling said he expects the candidate to participate in an as yet to be determined number of debates.

"We look forward to a vigorous discussion of the candidate's qualifications, their records and their vision for the future of Virginia," Bolling campaign manager Matt Wells said in an e-mail. "I'm confident there will be opportunities for debates during the course of the campaign."

It is not unusual for a candidate to call for multiple debates during an election season.

During the Democratic primary election cycle, candidates Mike Signer and Jon Bowerbank called on Wagner to hold more debates than were originally scheduled.

Wagner won the Democratic nomination in the June 9 election. Bolling earned the GOP nomination at the state Republican convention last month.

-- Julian Walker

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