Former Knollenberg chief of staff to face Peters in 2010

A former chief of staff to Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) are leaving Republicans hopeful they can take back Knollenberg’s old seat, which was won by now-Rep. Gary Peters (D) last fall.

Paul Welday, a former leader of the Oakland County GOP and onetime chief of staff to Knollenberg, will try to knock off the freshman Peters in 2010, the Detroit News reported Wednesday.

The seat, one of the recipients of campaign cash from the national parties last cycle, represents the outstretches of suburban Detroit. The district is more conservative than some closer to the city, but has witnessed some Democratic victories in recent cycles.

Welday ran unsuccessfully for the state House in 1988 and 2008, the News reported.