The Michigan Daily
Vol. LXXXVI, No. 60-S
Ann Arbor, Michigan-Wednesday, August 4, 1976
Ten Cents
Twelve Pages
p sEsch wins GP spot
Republican
pleased by
birthday win
By JIM TOBIN
Special To The Daily
SOUTHFIELD - Congress-
man Marvin Esch of Ann Arbor
last night coasted to victoryin
the Republican Senate race, on
a tide of support from party
regulars and the apparent ap-
peal of his moderate record
during ten years in Congress.
Defeating former State Su-
preme Court Justice Thomas
Brennan, former Congressman
Robert Huber and University
Regent Deane Baker, Esch won
79 per cent of the vote in a
primary race which generated
little public enthusiasm and on-
ly drew anoroximately 27 per
cent of Michigan voters to the
polls.
lPIENNA N'Ind B. ker trailed
E's with 7 ner cent each. Hi-
ber finished last with 6 per
cent of the vote.
Greeting supporters and staff
is the narking lot of his South-
fi-l headwirters after arriv
in in a gl"'tmin bwhite Monte
Carlo, Esch declared, "what
we've tried to do was really
understand the peonle of the
state of Michigan, and I think
the people have responded to
See ESCH, Page 10
Democrat
overcomes
low polls
By PHILLIP BOKOVOY
With wire reports
DETROIT-In one of the most
stunning political upsets in re-
cent Michigan history, Rep.
Donald Riegle of Flint smashed
the Senate hopes of Michigan
Secretary of State Richard Aus-
tin in 1 st night's Democratic
S n,te primary.
The energetic Riegle over-
came a 35 point deficit in the
polls of one month ago, block-
ing Austin's bid to become the
first black Democrat ever elect-
ed to the Senate.
"I FEIT WE could win," a
joyois Riegle said, "(but) the
margins are greater than I ex-
pected."
With 35 per cent of'Michigan's
precincts counted, Riegle held
95,843 votes, or 42 per cent of
thans cast. Austin collected
68,4,2 votes, 30 per cent of the
tnit 11, Rep. Jamtes O'Hlara tof
Utin'garnered 91,37 for 23 per
cent ;nd Birmingham attorney
Jam-;es Et nan won 12,415 votes,
for 5 per cent of the total.
"There is a new generation
of political leaders moving on
the scene in the country," Rie-
gle told his supporters in the
ballroom of the plush Detroit
See RIEGLE, Page 10
THE DEMOCRATS' CHOICE, U. S. representative Donald W. Riegle, waves his ballot after
voting yesterday in Flint. The 38-year-old congressman scored a decisive upset over Secre-
tary of State Richard Austin in the Democratic Senate primary.
Pierce wins; GOP race still tight
From STAFF REPORTS
Ann Arbor Democrat Dr. Ed-
ward Pierce and Republican
attorney Carl Pursell appeared'
to have their parties' nomina-
tion for the Second District Con-
gressional seat wrapped up as
of 1 a.m.
Pierce held a lead of ap-
proximately 7,000 in Washtenaw
County over his nearest opposi-
tion, attorney Marvin Stem-
pien. He was also known to
lead over Stempien and other
contenders in Wayne and Mon-
roe counties, although techni-
cal difficulties made an exact
tally impossible.
SPEAKING to a gathering
of campaign supporters out-
side the Ann Arbor Bank on
Liberty, Pierce said, "I don't
know what you people are
cheering about. You're gonna
have to work your asses off for
the next few months."
Pierce, a physician who gave
up a lucrative private practice
in 1968 to found the Summit
Medical Center, an institution
that provides low-cost health
care to the disadvantaged, has
also been involved in local poli-
tices. A former Ann Arbor City
Council member, he was de-
feated for the Democratic Con-
gressional nomination by John
Reuther in 1974, losing by a
mere 81 votes. Reuther went
on to be defeated by Republi-
can Marvin Esch in the gener-
al election in November.
His chief opponent in the
race was Livonia attorney and
former three-term state repre-
sentative Marvin Stempien.
Stempien's main base of sup-
port was thought to be in
Wayne County, which includes
Livonia. Ie ran well in his area,
though a lack of name - recog-
nition was thought to be the
cause of his trailing by enor-
mous margins in other areas.
STEMPIEN COULD not be
reached for comment.
Monroe County Commissioner
Delbert Hoffman, Eastern
Michigan University Professor
Mary Robek, and John Spill-
son, also of Monroe, were oth-
er candidates for the Demo-
cratic nomination, none of the
See PIERCE, Page 10
ED PIERCE squints in ecstasy with a fellow supporter after
easily sweeping yesterday's Congressional race.