On Feb. 25, Nancy Skinner announced that she was ending her congressional campaign and endorsed Democratic rival Gary Peters. Peters is now the leading Democratic candidate to face Joe Knollenberg in November.

“The truth is that it takes enormous resources to beat an incumbent, and given the way our late primary is structured, a costly primary is a gift to Knollenberg”, Skinner told the Royal Oak Daily Tribune. “Gary Peters has been able to amass those resources and support at a level that I have not been able to this point, and to win this seat in November, Democrats will have to consolidate their forces behind him.”

Peters thanked Skinner for her decision, which will let him focus on the general election.

“I thank Nancy Skinner for her dedication and service and I look forward to working in a united effort to defeat Joe Knollenberg,” he said. “Whether it’s Knollenberg’s votes to outsource our jobs to other countries, his vote against giving our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan a bonus, all the while voting to raise his own Congressional pay, our community must have new representation in Congress.”

Skinner’s strong performance against Knollenberg in 2006 propelled the Ninth District on to Democratic watch lists for the 2008 election.

“Nancy Skinner’s decision today to withdraw from the 9th Congressional District race demonstrates what a selfless Democrat she is,” said Mark Brewer, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party. “She ran a great race in 2006 which demonstrated Joe Knollenberg’s vulnerability.”

Posted: February 26th, 2008 under nancy skinner, gary peters, knollenberg watch.
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From Roll Call:

Democrats believe Republicans’ votes against the current bill to expand SCHIP could be fatal in next year’s elections. To underscore this point, Van Hollen in his letter referenced a DCCC-sponsored poll of Knollenberg’s district conducted Oct. 30-Nov. 2 by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, a Democratic firm based in Washington, D.C. The poll of 413 likely voters had a margin of error of 4.8 points.

Van Hollen said it was proof positive that Knollenberg is vulnerable because of his position on the current SCHIP bill. The poll memo prepared by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research noted radio ads by the DCCC and television spots by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees - both hitting Knollenberg on SCHIP - and credited them for softening up support for the Congressman among voters.

According to this survey, portions of which were obtained by Roll Call, Knollenberg’s lead over his likely challenger, state Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters (D), was at 7 points - 42 percent to 35 percent - a 5-point drop from the advantage the incumbent held in April.

Knollenberg’s 7-point lead turned into a 7-point deficit after respondents were read both a push question characterizing his position on SCHIP, and the Democratic and Republican arguments for and against the program.

Posted: November 7th, 2007 under gary peters, knollenberg watch.
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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.

Posted: August 8th, 2007 under gary peters, knollenberg watch.
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