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Candidate for U.S. Senate

Name: Allen W. McCulloch, Republican

Age: 52

Campaign Web site: www.allen4senate.com

Occupation: Urologist, chemical engineer, farmer/rancher

Family: Married 30 years, Gayla Drake McCulloch; two sons in college

Education: Board certified urologist; University of New Mexico School of Medicine; New Mexico State University, bachelor's in chemical engineering; Farmington High School

Please list the experience you think would make you a good senator.

Twenty-seven years of health care experience: Involved in community, Independent Physicians Association; statewide medical access; New Mexico Medical Society; San Juan Regional Medical Center Board of Directors.

Twenty-nine years of engineering experience: Oil and gas production; vapor recovery to avoid methane gas release; emission control from compressors; recently awarded a U.S. patent.

Life-long experience: Range management; water use; livestock management; development of natural beef product and market; established first breed specific natural beef product certified by the U.S.D.A.

Ten years of community bank experience

Two years of community college board experience

Two years national board member of Piedmontese Association

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony or misdemeanor? No

What's the best meal you can cook from scratch? Tamales

Last book read: "Be Determined" by Warren W. Wiersbe.

What was your biggest mistake in life and what lesson did you learn?

Castrating a bull at night. Do not castrate bull at night unless on a full moon.

What is your position on the war in Iraq? Should plans be made to reduce U.S. troop levels?

The war in Iraq is one of many fronts of the war on terror. I am in full support of the global war on terror and would work to my last breath to pass legislation that would give our sons and daughters the tools they need to win the war on terror and come home. Plans should be made to reduce troop levels when the commanders on the ground feel the situation is secure; we cannot leave until the job is done.

Name three things you think Congress should do to stem the illegal immigration and drug trafficking along the border.

1. Secure the border. We must stop the flow of undocumented people from passing into this country by using strategic barriers and fencing.

2. Enforce existing laws. We must enforce the current laws on the books before any other laws are made. Short of that is just feel-good legislation.

3. Increase the budget of the Border Patrol. We must work to get more boots on the ground at the border. We must fully fund the Border Patrol for them to be effective. Use National Guard on strategic and limited basis.

Do you believe the Patriot Act presents challenges to civil liberties? What amendments, if any, would you offer to it, if you are elected?

It is critically important that we balance the need to ensure our civil liberties while at the same time giving law enforcement officials the necessary tools to identify, disrupt and destroy terror networks in the United States. I am a strong defender of our civil liberties, but in a post 9/11 world, we must be prepared to ensure the safety of American families.

When the Patriot Act was introduced to the U.S. Senate for passage, all but one member voted to pass the Patriot Act. The nation has made leaps and bounds in the realm of civil liberties, and to chalk up the safety of American families to civil liberties is incorrect.

The Patriot Act is designed to thwart domestic terrorism (which is an increasing threat since 9/11). Domestic terrorism are activities that, A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the US or of any state, that B) appear to be intended i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping, and C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the US.

How could the federal government improve its relations with American Indians?

The sovereignty of American Indians allows for self governance, which I support. The future of our reservations depends on the ability of these sovereign nations to grow an economy that is competitive. Future funding should include entrepreneurial incentives. The Indian health care system should be competitive with the private health care system.

The federal government last raised the minimum wage in 1997. Would you support an increase in wage, which is $5.15 an hour?

Minimum wage is not the solution to poverty. The long-term solution to poverty is development of skills to generate earning potential to afford health insurance.

What is your position on abortion?

I am pro-life. Should be funded to protect a mother's life.

What specific stances would you want to know an appointee to the Supreme Court holds?

There should be no litmus test when it comes to confirming a Supreme Court nominee. I would look into that individual's background as a judge or attorney. We must have justices that are there to interpret the U.S. Constitution, not legislate from the bench. It is not the place for a member of the US Supreme Court to look at International law, or the laws for other nations in order to find the answer they want.