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Gary Peters |
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MI 09
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Gary Peters is an outstanding progressive Democratic candidate and a strong supporter of DAPAC's core progressive values. For example, he is 100% pro-choice, a strong environmentalist, a vigorous advocate for gay rights, universal health care and and immediate end to the Iraq war. His stance on strong protection of the environment is evidenced by his record in the Michigan State Senate where he led efforts to protect Michigan's natural resources and authored a bill banning drilling for oil and gas under the Great Lakes.
Gary was a Democratic leader in the Michigan Senate. He was Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and served as ranking Democrat on several committees, including ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee and was a founder and co-chair of the Senate Arts Caucus. He also led the efforts to protect civil liberties while balancing the need for security. In addition, he voted to fight domestic violence, punish abusers of the elderly and improve the quality of and access to health care. Finally, Gary was asked to participate as a member of the delegations meeting with the government officials in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and India.
Although he is strongly against the Iraq war and favors immediate steps to end the American occupation, he served as a Lieutenant Commander and a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist in the United States Navy Reserve. His reserve duty included time in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Southern Watch, and he served overseas during increased military activity following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During his service he received numerous awards and citations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
Gary has taught Strategic Management and Business Policy at Oakland University in Rochester and was an instructor of Finance and Business Economics at Wayne State University. Gary was recently named the Griffin Chair in American government at Central Michigan University where he will continue his work in higher education by teaching seminars and organizing forums focusing on major public policy challenges facing Michigan.
Michigan's 9th district is contained within Oakland County in the southeast areas of the state and encompasses most of the county. Like Oakland County as a whole, the district has a Cook rating of R+0 and a DAPAC rating of D+4, which is more current than the Cook rating. This district is rapidly trending Democratic and has a 8.1& Democratic edge now in the district.
His opponent, Republican Joe Knollenberg, has represented the 9th district in Congress since 1993 and is a right-wing extremist who has consistently voted to uphold the Bush administration's stance against strengthening clean water legislation, and voted against expanding SCHIP, legalizing same sex marriage, allowing stem cell research, strengthening union worker's rights, increasing education funding, and the withdrawal from Iraq. He has been a leader in supporting the Iraq war and has supported detainee tribunals. Knollenberg is strongly pro-life and anti-choice and has supported ANWR drilling, limiting interstate abortion and extending the Patriot Act.
His Conservative voting record is reflected by his approval ratings of 71 by the Family Research Council and 75 by the American Conservative Union. He has supported the Bush administration's policies 90% of the time. In contrast, Knollenberg's voting record on health care is abysmal as evidenced by the rating of 0 out of 100 points that the American Public Health Association gave him for his voting record in 2007 on issues that directly impact the health of Americans. The American Public Health Association is the oldest. largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. Clearly, with Gary Peters we have the opportunity to support a candidate who will bring a progressive perspective to the next Congress.... one who has the courage to challenge the conservative forces that have stalled our country's progress here in the United States and in the wold. |
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