No Surprises

Results of local and national political races go as expected.

The Victors

US. Senate

HARRY KIRS BAUM

Staff Writer

he race for Michigan's Ninth Congress-
ional District mirrors what happened
nationally: no gains for either party in the
House of Representatives and the
Democrats losing the Senate.
Incumbent Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills,
had increased confidence with every precinct total
reported in the district. The mood was as bright as
the lights as about 250 campaign workers, volun-
teers and supporters cheered the televised results of
other national elections from Knollenberg's election-
night party at the Detroit Marriott-Pontiac at
Centerpoint.
"It looks good and we're confident," Knollenberg
said as results began to trickle in for his hotly con-
tested race. Knollenberg called Democratic chal-
lenger David Fink of West Bloomfield his "first gen-
eral opponent of consequence" in 10 years.
We had a campaign plan which required us to
raise the amount of money we wanted,"
Knollenberg said. "We didn't know that it would
ever be enough to match what he would dig out of
Top to bottom:
his own pocket."
Joe Knollenberg greets supporters.
As of Oct. 16, Fink had spent $1.68 million to
Knollenberg's $1.74 million.
David Fink talks to supporters Mark Winter of White
Knollenberg easily won his sixth consecutive two-
Lake and Paul Kesman of Rochester Hills.
year term, 58 percent to 40 percent, in a newly
redrawn district that includes Pontiac, Farmington
support of the Jewish community. "I was very pleased
Hills, Troy, Lake Orion-Orion Township and
and impressed with the willingness of so many peo-
Waterford. Someone else previously represented 62
ple in the Jewish community who welcomed my can- ,
percent of those residents.
didacy," he said. ".I've got no complaints."
The mood began optimistically among the volun-
Knollenberg also thanked the Jewish. community
teers at the Fink campaign party in Troy, at the
"I am deeply humbled by my substantial victory and
Detroit-Troy Marriott.
the critical role the Jewish community played in my
"I think it's gonna be close, but I think we're
success," he said. "This coming year will continue to
gonna pull through," said Rachel Kaminski, 22, of
prove challenging to Israel as she continues to endure
Farmington Hills. The communications major at
terrorist attacks. I look forward to working with the
Oakland Community College volunteered to work
local Jewish community on this and many other
on Fink's campaign as part of a class project. Her
issues. For the past decade, we have been a team and
hopes diminished, along with those of the other 150 we will continue this relationship in the new
supporters present, over the course of the night.
Congress."
Around 11 p.m., at the same time that Governor-
David Gad-Harf, executive director of Jewish
elect Jennifer Granholm gave her acceptance speech,
Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, said
Fink addressed his supporters.
the election results should come as no surprise, but
"We did everything we could possibly do and for
the margin was.
that we can be proud," Fink told his volunteers.
"David Fink was expecting that he would benefit
"Sometimes it just doesn't work. I'm not quitting,
from the coattails of [U.S. Sen.] Carl Levin and
and I don't think any of you are, because the issues
Jennifer Granholm, but the coattails never material-
are too important."
ized for him," Gad-Harf said.
Speaking of the issues of reasonable gun safety and
"I suspect that a higher percentage of Jews voted
a woman's right to choose, he said. "We got the mes-
for Joe Knollenberg than in any of his previous five
sage out about what really was and is important to
races. The Jewish community's concern about Israel
the people in our community. It may well be that not seems to supercede other priorities right now, and
enough of them agree with us yet and, if that's the
Knollenberg's position on the House Appropriations
case, that's their problem."
Committee gave him a vehicle for demonstrating
After the speech, Fink said he was gratified by the
support for Israel."

T

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U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-
Mich., fared well, beating
Republican challenger
Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski
of Farmington Hills, 58 per-
cent to 40 percent. This will
be Levin's fifth six-year term
in the job.

U.S. House

Carl. Levin

Levin's brother, U.S. Rep.
Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak,
easily beat challenger Harvey
Dean of Warren in the race
for the 12th district, 81 per-
cent to 17 percent. Levin will
serve his 11th two-year term
in a newly redrawn district
that includes Southfield, Oak
Park, Lathrup Village,
Ferndale and parts of
Macomb County.

Sander Levin

Governor

In the state's gubernatorial race, Michigan
Attorney General Jennifer Granholm of
Northville beat Lieutenant Governor Dick
Posthumus of Alto, 51 percent to 48 percent, for
a four-year term.
'1'he JCCouncil's Gad-Harf
said Granholm received
strong support from the
Jewish community. "She is
likely to provide more atten
tion to issues of concern to
the Detroit metropolitan area,
where most Jews reside, and
should show concern for the
elderly and disabled— prior-
ities for the Jewish communi-
Jennifer
ty," he said.
Granholm

State Senate

Democrat Gilda Jacobs of the 14th District took
68 percent of the vote over her opponent
Republican Marc Wilkins to gain a four-year
term in the Michigan State Senate. Her support-
ers cut across party lines and helped her win
more than 7 percent of the Democratic base in
her district.
Jacobs of Huntington Woods leaves her posi-
tion as Democratic floor leader of the Michigan
House of Representatives, where she became the

ELECTION on page 19

11/8
2002

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