Joe Knollenberg
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" Knollenberg (born November 28, 1933) is a politician
from the U.S. state
of Michigan
. From 1993 to 2009, he was a Republican
member of the U.S. House of Representatives
, representing .
He was defeated by Gary Peters
in the 2008 election by a margin of 52% to 43%.
and graduated from Eastern Illinois University
in 1955. He has lived in the Detroit area since 1959, and has lived in Oakland County since 1967. After graduation, he served in the United States Army
from 1955 to 1957. He then spent more than three decades as an insurance agent. Initially working for New York Life and Sears, he founded his own agency in the late 1980s. He served as chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party from 1978 to 1982.
, who had represented most of Oakland County in Congress since 1957. However, at a meeting with Knollenberg and other advisers, Broomfield announced he would not run for a 19th term. He then asked Knollenberg to run in his place in the 11th District, which had been renumbered from the 18th District after the 1990 census. Despite being the only candidate in the three-way Republican primary not holding elected office, Knollenberg won the nomination by over 13 points. As the 11th was one of the most Republican districts in Michigan and the nation at the time, he was virtually assured of becoming only the third person to represent the district. He was reelected six times without serious difficulty, never dropping below 55 percent of the vote.
Knollenberg was re-elected to his seventh term in 2004 with 58% of the vote. In 2006, however, Knollenberg faced a tough campaign against Democrat
Nancy Skinner, a liberal talk show host in the Detroit area, ultimately winning by six points. Two years later, in a more difficult election cycle for Republican candidates, Knollenberg lost re-election to Gary Peters.
Generally, Knollenberg's voting record was conservative. He supported the North American Free Trade Agreement
and led the campaign against President George W. Bush
's steel tariff
s. In 2002 he was awarded the Mkhitar Gosh
Medal by the President of the Republic of Armenia. On September 29, 2008, he voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
.
Patricia Godchaux
. Democratic
candidate Nancy Skinner, a popular former radio-talk show host in the Detroit area, was her party's nominee for the 9th district. Matthew R. Abel of the Green Party
and Adam Goodman of the Libertarian Party
were third-party candidates also in the race.
Prior to 2006, Knollenberg's election was widely considered to be relatively easy given the traditionally Republican leanings of Troy
, the largest city in his district. However, recent demographic shifts in the district, and Oakland County as a whole, made what was once a bastion of suburban conservatism much more competitive. For example, George W. Bush
barely won the district in 2000 and 2004. The 2000s round of redistricting made Knollenberg's district much friendlier to Democrats. While the district lost heavily Democratic Southfield
, it picked up equally Democratic Pontiac
and lost a Republican-leaning spur of Wayne County
.
In the 2006 election, Knollenberg was nearly defeated, taking only 52 percent of the vote to Skinner's 46 percent. Abel received .9%, and Goodman received 1.3%. This was the closest a Democrat had come to winning the district in 48 years; in 1958 Broomfield only won a second term by 5.5 points.
Knollenberg spent $2.7 million in his campaign.
to target him for defeat. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted Congressional Districts where Republicans garnered less than 55% of the vote.
The Democratic nominee was Gary Peters
, the former state lottery commissioner. Skinner initially made plans for a rematch, but bowed out to clear the field for Peters. On 12 March 2008, Dr. Jack Kevorkian
announced that he would challenge Knollenberg as an independent candidate. The Libertarian nominee was Adam Goodman and the Green nominee was Douglas Campbell
. Kevorkian
, Goodman and Campbell
each raised and spent less money than the mandatory reporting threshold.
On November 4, 2008, Knollenberg was defeated, garnering 43 percent of the vote to Peters' 52 percent. Knollenberg's candidacy was likely hurt by a heavy Democratic tide in the Detroit area; Barack Obama
carried Oakland County by a 15-point margin, six percentage points more than Peters' margin over Knollenberg. A potential factor in Knollenberg's defeat was a series of advertisements criticizing his vote against expanding S-CHIP
.
His son, Marty Knollenberg
, was elected in November 2006 by a 58%-42% margin to the Michigan State House of Representatives
from the 41st District, representing Troy and Clawson, and defeating Democratic college student Eric Gregory of Troy. In the August 2006 primary he defeated Clawson School Board Trustee Mike Bosnic by a 53.5-46.5% margin, despite the endorsement of Bosnic by then-representative Robert Gosselin
. That contest was labeled by a Lansing-insider political publication as the fourth most interesting primary in Michigan. MIRS News Service, Subscription only.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. From 1993 to 2009, he was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, representing .
He was defeated by Gary Peters
Gary Peters (Michigan politician)
Gary Peters is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Oakland County, a suburban county northwest of Detroit. He previously represented the 14th District in the Michigan Senate, and was a political science professor at...
in the 2008 election by a margin of 52% to 43%.
Early life
Knollenberg was born in Mattoon, IllinoisMattoon, Illinois
Mattoon is a city in Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,555 as of the 2010 census. It is a principal city of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.Mattoon was the site of the "Mad Gasser" attacks of the 1940s....
and graduated from Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
in 1955. He has lived in the Detroit area since 1959, and has lived in Oakland County since 1967. After graduation, he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1955 to 1957. He then spent more than three decades as an insurance agent. Initially working for New York Life and Sears, he founded his own agency in the late 1980s. He served as chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party from 1978 to 1982.
Congressional career
In 1992, Knollenberg signed on as campaign manager for Congressman William BroomfieldWilliam Broomfield
William S. Broomfield, or Bill Broomfield, is a retired politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Early life:Broomfield was born in Royal Oak, Michigan. He graduated from high school in 1940 and attended Michigan State College at East Lansing. During the Second World War, he served in the...
, who had represented most of Oakland County in Congress since 1957. However, at a meeting with Knollenberg and other advisers, Broomfield announced he would not run for a 19th term. He then asked Knollenberg to run in his place in the 11th District, which had been renumbered from the 18th District after the 1990 census. Despite being the only candidate in the three-way Republican primary not holding elected office, Knollenberg won the nomination by over 13 points. As the 11th was one of the most Republican districts in Michigan and the nation at the time, he was virtually assured of becoming only the third person to represent the district. He was reelected six times without serious difficulty, never dropping below 55 percent of the vote.
Knollenberg was re-elected to his seventh term in 2004 with 58% of the vote. In 2006, however, Knollenberg faced a tough campaign against Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Nancy Skinner, a liberal talk show host in the Detroit area, ultimately winning by six points. Two years later, in a more difficult election cycle for Republican candidates, Knollenberg lost re-election to Gary Peters.
Generally, Knollenberg's voting record was conservative. He supported the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
and led the campaign against President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's steel tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
s. In 2002 he was awarded the Mkhitar Gosh
Mkhitar Gosh
Mkhitar Gosh was an Armenian scholar, writer, public figure, thinker, and priest. He was born in the city of Gandzak. He got his early education from public institutions. When he reached his adolescence he decided to dedicate his life to church...
Medal by the President of the Republic of Armenia. On September 29, 2008, he voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
.
Committee assignments
- Appropriations Committee
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (Ranking Member)
2006 election
Knollenberg was challenged in the 2006 Republican primary by moderate RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Patricia Godchaux
Patricia Godchaux
Patricia "Pan" Godchaux is a moderate Republican who ran for the United States Congress for the 9th federal congressional district in the state of Michigan. She challenged seven-term incumbent Joe Knollenberg in the Republican primary and hoped to get Democratic support in the primary, as the...
. Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidate Nancy Skinner, a popular former radio-talk show host in the Detroit area, was her party's nominee for the 9th district. Matthew R. Abel of the Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
and Adam Goodman of the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
were third-party candidates also in the race.
Prior to 2006, Knollenberg's election was widely considered to be relatively easy given the traditionally Republican leanings of Troy
Troy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
, the largest city in his district. However, recent demographic shifts in the district, and Oakland County as a whole, made what was once a bastion of suburban conservatism much more competitive. For example, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
barely won the district in 2000 and 2004. The 2000s round of redistricting made Knollenberg's district much friendlier to Democrats. While the district lost heavily Democratic Southfield
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
, it picked up equally Democratic Pontiac
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
and lost a Republican-leaning spur of Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
.
In the 2006 election, Knollenberg was nearly defeated, taking only 52 percent of the vote to Skinner's 46 percent. Abel received .9%, and Goodman received 1.3%. This was the closest a Democrat had come to winning the district in 48 years; in 1958 Broomfield only won a second term by 5.5 points.
Knollenberg spent $2.7 million in his campaign.
2008 election
In January 2006, Congressman Knollenberg announced his intent to seek re-election in 2008. The narrowness of his 2006 reelection bid, combined with his district's changing demographics led the Democratic Congressional Campaign CommitteeDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
to target him for defeat. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted Congressional Districts where Republicans garnered less than 55% of the vote.
The Democratic nominee was Gary Peters
Gary Peters (Michigan politician)
Gary Peters is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Oakland County, a suburban county northwest of Detroit. He previously represented the 14th District in the Michigan Senate, and was a political science professor at...
, the former state lottery commissioner. Skinner initially made plans for a rematch, but bowed out to clear the field for Peters. On 12 March 2008, Dr. Jack Kevorkian
Jack Kevorkian
Jacob "Jack" Kevorkian , commonly known as "Dr. Death", was an American pathologist, euthanasia activist, painter, composer and instrumentalist. He is best known for publicly championing a terminal patient's right to die via physician-assisted suicide; he said he assisted at least 130 patients to...
announced that he would challenge Knollenberg as an independent candidate. The Libertarian nominee was Adam Goodman and the Green nominee was Douglas Campbell
Douglas Campbell (Michigan politician)
Douglas Campbell is a two-time Green Party Candidate for Governor of Michigan and a 2008 candidate for the United States House of Representatives. In 2002 Campbell received 25,236 votes...
. Kevorkian
Jack Kevorkian
Jacob "Jack" Kevorkian , commonly known as "Dr. Death", was an American pathologist, euthanasia activist, painter, composer and instrumentalist. He is best known for publicly championing a terminal patient's right to die via physician-assisted suicide; he said he assisted at least 130 patients to...
, Goodman and Campbell
Douglas Campbell (Michigan politician)
Douglas Campbell is a two-time Green Party Candidate for Governor of Michigan and a 2008 candidate for the United States House of Representatives. In 2002 Campbell received 25,236 votes...
each raised and spent less money than the mandatory reporting threshold.
On November 4, 2008, Knollenberg was defeated, garnering 43 percent of the vote to Peters' 52 percent. Knollenberg's candidacy was likely hurt by a heavy Democratic tide in the Detroit area; Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
carried Oakland County by a 15-point margin, six percentage points more than Peters' margin over Knollenberg. A potential factor in Knollenberg's defeat was a series of advertisements criticizing his vote against expanding S-CHIP
State Children's Health Insurance Program
The State Children's Health Insurance Program – later known more simply as the Children's Health Insurance Program – is a program administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides matching funds to states for health insurance to families with children...
.
Family
Knollenberg has two sons with his wife, Sandie.His son, Marty Knollenberg
Marty Knollenberg
Martin Knollenberg is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He is a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives, representing the 41st District which covers the cities of Troy and Clawson in Oakland County. He is the son of former U.S...
, was elected in November 2006 by a 58%-42% margin to the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
from the 41st District, representing Troy and Clawson, and defeating Democratic college student Eric Gregory of Troy. In the August 2006 primary he defeated Clawson School Board Trustee Mike Bosnic by a 53.5-46.5% margin, despite the endorsement of Bosnic by then-representative Robert Gosselin
Robert Gosselin
Robert Gosselin is a conservative Republican politician in Oakland County, Michigan and is an Oakland County Commissioner.- Biography :...
. That contest was labeled by a Lansing-insider political publication as the fourth most interesting primary in Michigan. MIRS News Service, Subscription only.
External links
- Federal Election Commission — Joseph K. Knollenberg campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Joe Knollenberg issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Joe Knollenberg campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart — Representative Joseph K. 'Joe' Knollenberg (MI) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia — Joe Knollenberg profile
- Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Joe Knollenberg voting record
- Retire Joe Knollenberg -- a Rochester Hills, MichiganRochester Hills, MichiganRochester Hills is an affluent city in northeast Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 70,995. The city of Rochester is bounded on the north, south, and west by Rochester Hills...
based web site critical of Knollenberg