Former State Senator Gary Peters announced on August 7 that he will run against Joe Knollenberg for the Ninth District House seat.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP – A public servant with a record of fiscal discipline, Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) today announced he will run for Congress in 2008, pledging to fight outsourcing, help strengthen the economy and resolve the war in Iraq.

“I’ll be a strong voice for Oakland County families in Washington and fight tooth-and-nail for every Michigan job,” Peters said. “For too long, our representative in Washington has been a rubber stamp for the Bush administration’s failed policies in Iraq and failed policies on the economy. It’s time for a change, and I will always put the citizens of Oakland County ahead of partisan politics and special interests.”

Peters served as a state senator from 1995 to 2002 and was honored for his contributions by many organizations, including the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police and the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Michigan. As a lieutenant commander and SEABEE combat specialist in the U.S. Navy reserve, Peters’ reserve duty included time in the Persian Gulf and overseas after 9/11.

In addition to government and military service, Peters worked in the private sector as a vice president for two major financial services companies and helped families invest their money wisely in order to save for a secure retirement and provide for a college education for their children. Peters knows first hand the financial challenges working families face and the importance of a strong and vibrant Social Security system. Peters is currently serving as Michigan’s lottery commissioner and will officially resign this Friday, Aug 10.

As a public servant, Peters earned a reputation for fiscal responsibility: While a state senator, he returned a year’s worth of office expenses back to Michigan taxpayers. As lottery commissioner, he stayed below budget while raising record amounts of money for public schools.

Peters will challenge seven-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, who has been congressman for the 9th district in Oakland County since 1993.

“Joe Knollenberg is an entrenched Washington insider who has lost touch with the people and spends more time protecting special interests than Michigan jobs,” Peters said. “The Knollenberg-Bush record includes outsourcing good jobs to other countries and a head-in-the-sand policy on Iraq. We need a new direction on jobs, the economy and Iraq to get Michigan – and our nation – back on track.”

To learn more, go to: www.PetersForCongress.com.