11 th Congressional
District Sizzles
A businessman, state senator and a judge make
Republican primary anything but dull.
A
lice Gilbert loved her job
as a judge. As a veteran
of the Circuit Court
bench, she didn't need a new ca-
reer.
But as a woman in 1992, Ms.
Gilbert, 60, of Orchard Lake,
was sure she could make a dif-
ference.
David Honigman, 36, an at-
torney from West Bloomfield,
had just moved from the state
House to the Senate. He was
looking forward to completing
his term. Yet
this was an
opportunity
he couldn't
pass up.
Joe Knol-
lenberg, 58, of
Birmingham,
who owns an
insurance agency, had been on
the inside as Oakland County
GOP chief. He had no burning
desire to run for Congress. But
Rep. William Broomfield's re-
tirement left the race wide open.
Each took the bait. With Mr.
Broomfield, Michigan's dean of
Republican politics, out of the
HOT RACES92
* **
KIMBERLY LIFTON
Staff Writer
playing field, these three Re-
publicans now are facing each
other in the hottest Congres-
sional primary in Oakland
County.
Like most races, the slate of
campaign issues for the newly
drawn 11th Congressional Dis-
trict is plentiful. Each candidate
agrees that strategies are need-
ed to curtail the national debt,
balance the federal budget, im-
prove the economy, reform ed-
ucation, lessen crime and
improve health care.
Perhaps this race is spicy be-
cause two Jewish candidates,
each who expresses strong sup-
port for Israel, are in the run-
ning. Add to that the abortion
rights issue, which has been di-
visive among the candidates at
a time when the country awaits
a decision by the U.S. Supreme
Court that could essentially gut
the landmark Roe V. Wade case
that legalized abortion in the
early 1970s.
On the Congressional slate is
a Freedom of Choice Act, which
would codify the Roe decision. It
has not yet come to the floor of
the Senate or the House for a
vote.
Ms. Gilbert, the only pro-
choice candidate, jumped into
the contest to protect reproduc-
tive rights for women. She is the
only candidate who would sup-
port the bill.
Mr. Knollenberg says he is
pro-life, and Mr. Honigman says
he is middle-of-the-road on abor-
tion rights. Mr. Honigman
maintains that he is personally
opposed to abortion, but he
would not impose criminal
penalties for women who obtain
abortions, or for the doctors who
perform them.
Mr. Honigman is the only one
of the three candidates who does
not highlight abortion rights as
a major campaign issue. He has
been criticized for his views by
abortion rights advocates and
opponents.
Women comprise 50 percent
of the district's registered vot-
ers, and Ms. Gilbert is banking
on that figure to win the race.
She would not discuss campaign
cost estimates.
Mr. Honigman says he will
spend "whatever it takes" to
win. Mr. Knollenberg estimates
the contest will cost his cam-
paign about $250,000.
Most agree it is odd that two
recognized members of the Jew-
ish community would find
themselves in the same prima-
ry — especially in the Republi-
can Party, which hasn't elected
many Jewish legislators.
To Jim Alexander, Oakland
County's first Jewish GOP
chairman, news of two Jewish
Republicans in such a contest-
ed seat is "wonderful."
"Over the years, the Repub-
lican position has come closer to
the issues that matter to our
Jewish community, and we
have seen an increase in in-
volvement," Mr. Alexander says.
Adds Morris Amitay, execu-
tive director for the Washington
Political Action Committee, one
of the largest pro-Israel PACS,
"This is a win-win situation." In
a case where two candidates
with no voting records appear
strong on Israel issues, he says,
Washington PAC waits until
the primary is over to make any
Campaign Watch
This is the first story
in a series on races that
are especially hot during
the 1992 primary sea-
son. Next week, you will
get a look at the 47th
District Court. As a
judge gets ready to re-
tire, four Jewish candi-
dates out of a slate of
seven are in the running.
Other highlighted
races include: open spots
for 39th and 40th Dis-
trict state representa-
tives; and the large panel
of candidates running for
West Bloomfield board
of trustees.
David Honigman
Joseph Knollenberg
Alice Gilbert
THE DETROIT JEWISH N WS
43