Capitol Bound?

Congressional candidate says he'd bring national
government experience to the 11th District.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
StaffWriter

F

or Matthew Frumin, a U.S. House
candidate from the 11th District,
moving to West Bloomfield this
week is actually a return home.
Frumin, 41, began his political career cam-
paigning as a 9-year-old child in his hometown
of Huntington Woods with his mother, Natalie
"Tommy" Frumin, then active in the Berkley
Council of Better Schools. "Part of my child-
hood was spent putting stamps on letters and
handing out flyers," Frumin said.
"Politics has always been very important to
my family," he said. "We watched and dis-
cussed the news over dinner."
Now he is canvassing on his own behalf,
preparing to run for the U.S. House of
Representatives against incumbent 66-year-old
Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Hills) and two
others. Election Day is Nov. 7. Running for a
congressional seat seems a natural progression
for a candidate with a history in law and internation-
al democracy promotion, trade and arbitration cases.

Washington Years

After graduating from Berkley High School and the
University of Michigan, Frumin spent 18 years in
Washington, D.C., working on such issues as plant
closings, water policy and construction. His tenure
culminated at the research arm of Legal Service
Corporation, which serves the poor.
His Capitol Hill experience led to a decision to
attend George Washington University Law School,
where he graduated in 1988. He then worked in pri-
vate practice, traveling worldwide to do commercial
work. That work included representing the City of
New York in the review of Manhattan's cable televi-
sion franchises, representing Colombian flower
growers and the Province of Alberta in trade cases,
and representing U.S. landowners in Costa Rica
seeking compensation for expropriated property.
During this time, Frumin became active in the
National Democratic Party and the Saxophone
Club, a young professional group.
Most recently, he received a political appointment
as special assistant to the undersecretary of state for
global affairs.
He said a 1995 call from his father, Dr. Morris
Frumin, changed the course of his career. A retired
psychiatrist, Dr. Frumin spent much time watching
national news programming. "For his whole medical
career and even before that, he wanted to see health
reform," said his son.

6/23

2000

14

Lena Steckel Frumin and Matthew
Frumin with children Jophie, 8; Zoe, 4;
and Alice, 11.

Dr. Frumin was unhappy with Knollenberg's
stance on the issue. So at 74, he decided to run
against the congressman. His son ran his father's 1996
campaign, which drew 100,000 votes — 36 percent.
Inspired by his father's desire "to make a differ-
ence" and a belief that it is time to make changes in
the 11th District, Frumin decided to vie for the
two-year, $141,300-per-year position.
"I have to encourage him and support him," says
Dr. Frumin, a Bingham Farms resident. "I have to
respect Matt for his interest and his serious effort
when he thought representation in the district was
not all it should be."
Knollenberg will bring the same confidence to the
race that helped him win four times previously, says
spokesperson John Akouri. He says Knollenberg works
closely with district residents, "who know he has no
hidden agenda and stands for what's right and what he
believes in, including lowering taxes, permanent nor-
mal trade relations with China, a strong defense,
repealing Social Security earning limits for seniors and
eliminating entirely, inheritance and death tax."

slogan: "Responsible leadership for our
children, meeting our responsibilities to
our parents."
He sees increased support for public
education, common-sense gun laws, pay-
ing off the federal debt and health care as
priorities for children. And, he said, "We
need rock-solid Social Security for our
parents. They worked their whole lives to
give to the community."
Concerning Medicare, Frumin says:
"Health care without prescription drug
coverage is like an empty shell."
He's a strong supporter of environmental issues.
"Our lakes are more beautiful in the lait 25 years.
Twenty-five years from now, if we can't make sure
they're better, then we've really, really failed."
Frumin met his wife, artist Lena Steckel Frumin,
when both were students at the University of
Michigan. She earned a master's degree in public
health, followed by two years in Togo, West Africa,
with the Peace Corps and work in international
health and family planning. They have three chil-
dren: Alice, 11; Jophie, 8; and Zoe, 4.
Others eyeing the seat Knollenberg has held since
1992 are Libertarian Richard Gach, a marijuana
legalization activist who also ran in 1998, and Joseph
Dizhary Jr., the Wayne County Reform Party chairman.
"I am not a token candidate," Frumin said. "I am
a very serious candidate."
Most always seen in a bow tie, he finds it a subtle
way of saying: "I don't want to be like everybody
else. It's not green hair. I'm not rebellious. I love the
crowd, but I don't want to blend in.
"It says, 'Hey, I'm here.'" ❑

Campaigning In Michigan

Frumin entered the race after contacting Vicki
Barnett, chair of the 11th Congressional District
Democratic Party office.
"Matt's candidacy is exciting to me because Jews
of the district can feel comfortable with his stand on
Israel, foreign policy and church and state," she says.
"He is no stranger to Israel and foreign policy and
our relations with the Middle East."
Frumin's campaign is highlighted in his campaign

A brunch reception for Matthew Frumin will be
held noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 25, at the
home of his brother and sister-in-law Dr.
Howard and Leslee Frumin, 30650 Harlincin
Court, Franklin; $100 minimum contribution.
To contact the candidate, call (248) 408-0586,
or e-mail nmfrumin@aol.com