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.