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Pierce Concedes

Pierce Concedes image
Parent Issue
Day
20
Month
September
Year
1974
OCR Text

Tuesday Dr. Ed Pierce finally conceded the Democratie nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat to UAW candidate John Reuther, nephew of the late union president.

Pierce, the founder of the Summit St. Medical Clinic and the SUN's chosen candidate, asked for a recount after the August 6 election in which official totals gave Reuther a narrow 81 -vote margin. Pierce called off the recount Monday night after nearly complete results had widened Reuther's lead to 130.

In his concession statement, the Doctor pledged to support Reuther's campaign against the incumbent Republican, Marvin Esch.

In his pitch to the voters Reuther is emphasizing a national health plan which he says promotes preventive medicine and better access for poor and working class people, as well as a public campaign finance law which still allows private contributions. He also advocates government as the employer of last resort and contends the burden of the present economic crisis should be borne by corporations and the rich and powerful.

Unlike Pierce, Reuther opposes bussing to achieve racial integrations as well as unconditional amnesty for war registers, supporting conditional amnesty instead.

Since August the two have run a joint campaign against Esch, pledging to support whomever won the recount. Pierce is reported to be planning a fund-raiser for Reuther, but also said Tuesday he has an obligation to return to the medical practice which he abandoned while politicking.

While Pierce swept to victory in Ann Arbor, Reuther piled up even larger pluralities in the eastern part of the district around Monroe and Livonia, heavily industrialized areas on the edge of Detroit where anti-bussing sentiment runs high.