Knollenberg confident his re-election is close at hand

October 28, 2004
BY MARSHA LOW
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

There are only five days left until voters hit the polls, and in Knollenberg-land, it's surprisingly calm and quiet.
Joe Knollenberg, the six-term Republican incumbent of Oakland County's 9th Congressional District, is unwaveringly confident about another win Nov. 2.

And why shouldn't he be? In 2002, his opponent, David Fink, raised more campaign money and still lost by 44,246 votes.
This time around, Knollenberg faces challenger Steve Reifman, a 56-year-old attorney from Farmington Hills.

"My opponent isn't making a lot of headway or presence, but that doesn't stop us from campaigning hard," said Knollenberg, 70, of Bloomfield Township. "Am I confident heading into next week? Absolutely."

But although Knollenberg is convinced that people will vote for his experience, Reifman said he believes he has a chance if he can persuade voters that Knollenberg's conservative views are no longer in step with what he sees as an increasingly Democratic region. The 9th district covers northwest Oakland County, including Birmingham, Farmington and Milford, and dips into Wayne County's Livonia and Redford Township.

"If he's confident, he's missing the boat," Reifman said. "We feel this district is much more Democratic this year than four years ago. The people are moving out to Clarkston and Brighton and moving in from Southfield. We have a great opportunity with the new makeup of this district."

Reifman is a Democrat with no political experience.

On the issue of Iraq, Knollenberg said: "I believe the president is doing the right thing. I believe the war is better fought on their doorstep than ours."

Reifman called the war a huge error: "We ... did something very much motivated by ulterior motives. It's clear the Bush administration wanted to get Iraq before 9/11 happened, and Knollenberg is lockstep with this administration."

Knollenberg said outsourcing of American jobs is a natural progression to technological advancements. Reifman refers to outsourcing as the "bleeding of America and Oakland County."

Reifman said he believes security is at risk because the administration is "throwing away resources in Iraq." Knollenberg said that without a secure country, there will be no economic recovery.

Shortly after Knollenberg won the 2002 election, his campaign machine began raising funds for 2004, a healthy $1.68 million. Reifman raised $83,476.

Contact MARSHA LOW at 248-351-3299 or low@freepress.com.