Metro Ready To Serve Congressman-elect Peters lays out early agenda. Robert Sklar Editor F ollowing his election as a con- gressman from Oakland County, Gary Peters reached out to one of the Ninth Congressional District's key constituent groups. "I am deeply honored by the sup- port and confidence of the Jewish com- munity here in Oakland County," said the Democrat from Bloomfield Hills. Peters, 49, is a former Michigan State Lottery commissioner and state senator. He defeated U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, 74. The Republican from Bloomfield Hills was Gary Peters first elected in 1993 and was seeking a ninth two-year term. Peters got 51 percent of the vote; Knollenberg drew 43 percent. Independent Jack Kevorkian, 80, a retired pathologist from Royal Oak, got 2 percent. Both Peters and Knollenberg had strong backing in the Jewish community; the JN received letters of support for each. Over the years, thanks to demographic shifts in southeast Michigan, the district turned more Democratic than when Knollenberg took office. Knollenberg entered Congress as Bill Clinton entered the White House. Knollenberg's margins of re-election have tight- ened in recent years. Peters' first priority Joe after taking office in Knollenberg January will be to get Michigan's economy moving again. He'll help do that, he says, "by stabilizing our financial system, pro- tecting our automakers, and cutting taxes for middle-class families and small busi- nesses!' One in 10 jobs in this country is tied to the auto industry, he said. Peters supports congressional approval for $25 billion in low-interest loans to help Detroit automakers retool plants so more fuel-efficient vehicles, like the Chevrolet Volt, can be built. "The auto industry is not just important for us here in Michigan:' Peters said. "It is a strategic industry for the whole country." Peters will have a chance to weigh in on that: Automakers are seeking up to $50 bil- lion more in loans to keep operations going and meet healthcare obligations for retirees. Peters promised that Israel, embroiled in an eight-year-long struggle with Winners' Circle State House: Democratic incumbent Carl Levin was re-elected against Republican chal- lenger Jack Hoogendyk Jr. 10th Distict: Incumbent Democrat Gabe Leland defeated U.S. Taxpayers Party challenger Mark Sosnowski. U.S. Congress: 11th District Republican incumbent Thaddeus McCotter defeat- ed Democratic challenger Joseph Larkin. 12th District Democratic incumbent Sander Levin defeated Republican challenger Bert Copple. A26 November 13 • 2008 accountable for their actions!' Last week, Peters also addressed the turmoil generated by other Middle East nations. "As we work to stabilize the Middle East and begin withdrawing our troops from Iraq," he said, "I will also support an aggressive, active diplomatic effort to guarantee that Iran does not develop or obtain nuclear weapons." The wide-ranging Ninth is one of Michigan's most important and influential congressional districts, given its Oakland County makeup: • Cities of Auburn Hills, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clawson, Farmington Hills, Farmington, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Orchard Lake Village, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Rochester, Royal Oak, Sylvan Lake and Troy. • Townships of Bloomfield, Oakland, Orion, Royal Oak and Wet Bloomfield. The annual pay for members of Congress is $169,300. Republicans attributed Knollenberg's loss to a perfect political storm: President Bush's unpopularity, Republican presi- dential candidate John McCain's pullout from active campaigning in Michigan, the nation's struggling economy and President-elect Barack Obama's long coat- tails. El Selected victors in the Nov. 4 general election. U.S. Senate: 9th District Democratic challenger Gary Peters defeated Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg. Palestinian-led terrorists, will always be on his radar. Knollenberg commanded Jewish allegiance because of his strong and unswerving support not only of the Jewish state, but also local Jewish agencies. Jews who support Peters believe he will be equally strong on Israel. "I look forward to working with leaders like Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida to ensure that America's commitment to Israel remains strong:' Peters told the IN. Peters visited Israel while serving in the Michigan Senate from 1995 to 2002. That visit reinforced his belief that a strong, vibrant, democratic Israel is vital to American national security interests. He hopes to go back to Israel as a con- gressman. "We have incredible opportunities for bi-national cooperation between the United States and Israel;' he said. "I intend to work closely with the Jewish commu- nity in southeast Michigan to help foster economic development in both countries." Before Election Day, Peter had told the JN relative to Israel: "In Congress, I will be a strong voice in support of foreign aid — both security and economic. I will unequivocally support Israel's efforts for peace, stability and security, and I will vote to hold the Palestinian leadership 12th District: Democrat Rashida Tlaib defeated Republican Darrin Daigle to replace term- limited Steve Tobocman, a Democrat. 27th Distict Democrat Ellen Cogen Lipton defeated Republican David Micola to replace term-limited Rep. Andy Meisner, a Democrat. 30th District Democrat Lisa Brown defeated Republican Amy Peterman to replace term-limited David Law, a Republican. 37th District Democrat Vicki Barnett defeated Republican Paul Welday to replace term- limited Ado Vagnozzi, a Democrat. State Board of Education Democrats Kathleen Straus and John Austin Oakland County: County Executive Republican incumbent L. Brooks Patterson defeated Democrat Brenda Lawrence. Prosecuting Attorney Democrat Jessica Cooper defeated Republican David Law to replace David Gorcyca, a Republican, who chose not seek re-election. Sheriff Republican incumbent Michael Bouchard defeated Democrat Jane Boudreau. Clerk/Register of Deeds Republican incumbent Ruth Johnson defeated Democrat Sheila Smith. Treasurer Democrat Andy Meisner defeated Republican incum- bent Pat Dohaney. Drain Commissioner Republican incumbent John McCulloch defeated Democrat Brett Nicholson. County Commission 14th District Democrat Steven Schwartz defeated Republican incum- bent Mike Rogers. Circuit Court Incumbents James Alexander, Martha Anderson, Nancy Grant, Shalina Kuma, Rudy Nichols and newcomers Lisa Gorcyca and Mary Ellen Brennan. Probate Court Daniel O'Brien defeated 17th District Democratic incumbent Marcia Gershenson defeated Republican Jeanne Blake. 22nd District Democratic incumbent Helaine Zack defeated Republican Kimberly Fidler. Mark Frankel. District Court 45A, Jamie Wittenberg defeated Denise Brainard; 45B, Incumbents Michelle Friedman Appel and David Gubow defeated Angela Diggs Jackson; 48, Kimberly Small was re- elected.