Jewish Communit
Likes Jack Kemp

I

f Jack Kemp wins the
Republican presidential
nomination in 1996, the
Jewish vote could be con-
siderably more favorable
to the Republican Party.
Such is the word of Alan
Fisher, a professor of
political science from
California State Uni-
versity and a senior fellow
at the Wilstein Institute
of Jewish Policy Studies
at the University of
Judaism.
Though polls have
shown that President Bill

Jack Kemp

Michigan Gets A
Jewish Guv?

Michigan has never had a
Jewish governor.
Howard Wolpe hopes to
change the statistic.
Mr. Wolpe, who retired
from Congress because of
redistricting, is making
his bid for the Democratic
nomination to face Repub-
lican John Engler in the

Howard Wolpe

1994 gubernatorial race.
Also mentioned as pos-
sible contenders for a pri-
mary battle are state Sen.
Debbie Stabenow, D-
Lansing, a favorite of
women's groups, and for-
•ther East Lansing Mayor
Larry Owen, who with his
wife, Faylene Owen,
' raised $1.5 million as co-
chairmen of finance for
Michigan's Clinton campaign.

Noticeably absen't from
this list is former state
Commerce Director Doug
Ross, whom many pundits
expected to enter the race.
Mr.- Ross has publicly
stated that he has no
plans to run.
Mr. Ross says he will
continue concentrating on
his newest venture,
Michigan Future Inc., a
non-profit, non-partisan
think tank funded through
foundation grants.
Mr. Ross formed the
group, which comprises a
10-person board, to create
a new vision for the state.
He believes the people of
Michigan can take this
state's woes into their own
hands, working as part-
ners with the government
through such traditional
avenues as neighborhood
groups and active paren-
tal involvement in the
schools.

Joe Knollenberg
Seeks Input

Newly elected 11th Con-
gressional District Rep.
Joseph Knollenberg, R-
Birmingham, has asked
Suzan Singer Mitchell for
a little advice on Israel
and the Jewish community.
Accordingly, Ms. Mit-
chell, director of public
information for former
Oakland County Execu-
tive Dan Murphy, will
serve on a constituent

steering committee in-
tended to advise Mr.
Knollenberg on issues.
The committee met for the
first time this week.
"While the Republican
Party is in the minority
right now, it is important
for all of us as Jews to
continue to make our
views known to the
Republicans," Ms. Mit-
chell said.
Previously, Ms. Mit-
chell, rie_7,7 sident of her
husband': ommunica-
tions and po itical consult-
ing firm, Mitchell Re-
search a.x .communica-
tions, tang in the state's
senate majority leader,
Dick Posthumus, about
the history of Israel. She
also took him to the
Holocaust Memorial
Center.
"Dick Posthumus has
traveled to Israel, and he
is a strong supporter of
Israel," she said. "I'd like
to use the same education
and influence for Joe
Knollenberg. He admits
he does not know a lot
about these Jewish issues.
But he represents us all
now, and he welcomes
additional input."

MJC Hosts
Receptio

They numbei -'more than
100, and they came from
as far as Petoskey,
Traverse City and Mus-

Clinton secured nearly 90
percent of the Jewish vote
last November, Mr. Fisher
is not convinced the
Democratic Party will
always be so popular.
Mr. Kemp's appeal to
the Jewish community
comes in the form of his
fiscal conservative agenda
with a touch of social con-
sciousness. He also is pro-
Israel, Mr. Fisher notes.
"Jews have been re-
markably successful eco-
nomically and are no
longer likely to be depen-

kegon to show support for
an annual reception of the
Michigan Jewish Con-
ference, launched two
years ago to be an advo-
cate for Jewish communi-
ties throughout the state.
Legislators included
Jewish state senators
Lana Pollack, D-Ann
Arbor; David Honigman,
R-West Bloomfield; Jack
Faxon, D-Farmington
Hills; and Jewish state
representatives Burton
Leland, D-Detroit, and
David Gubow, D-Hunt-
ington Woods.
Legislators mingled
with lobbyists, a few of
Gov. John Engler's cabi-
net members, representa-
tives from. Jewish commu-
nities throughout the
state and the MJC's new
director, Cindy Hughey,
who is based in Lansing.
"There was a good feel-
ing in the room," said
David Gad-Harf, executive
director for the Jewish
Community Council.
"Everyone was talking
about politics and the new
House structure.
"There was a lot of poli-
ticking," he added.

dent on the kinds of New
Deal government programs
that were so attractive to
their grandparents 50 years
ago," Mr. Fisher said.
"As the older generation
begins to pass from the
scene, they are replaced
by those who came of pol-
itical age during the
Reagan years, who knew
not Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Although still primarily
Democratic, they are more
like their non-Jewish
cohorts than are their par-
ents or grandparents."

and Thompson, is in the
running for the open U.S.
attorney position for the
Eastern District of Michi-
gan. Stephen Markman, a
Bush appointee, resigned
from the position after
President Bill Clinton was
elected.
Mr. Kaplan, a Macomb
County prosecutor, said
several state Democratic
leaders encouraged him to
apply for the job. Sen.
Donald Riegle will recom-
mend' a nominee to
President Clinton.
"This is a natural posi-
tion for an assistant pros-
ecutor who is .a trial
lawyer," Mr. Kaplan said.
A community activist,
Mr. Kaplan serves on the
Southfield Board of
Education, of which he
is imediate past presi-
dent.

CT)
CT)

Steven Kaplan
Eyes Post

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wtr

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LLI

Steven Kaplan, the
Southfield attorney who
ran an unsuccessful cam-
paign for Oakland County
prosecutor against Rich-

LL

Steven Kaplan

41

