In an unusual election, Pierce ran on a statewide ballot after the Illinois Supreme Court ordered an at large election for all 177 members of the Illinois House; the result of partisan gridlock preventing the completion of the decennial reapportionment process.[3]
During his tenure, he was a member of the Democratic Study Group, a caucus of independent, liberal Democrats. His role in this organization earned him a nominal spot on the leadership team of then-Minority Leader Clyde L. Choate.[5] Pierce served as a delegate for Edmund Muskie in the 1972 Democratic presidential primary.[5] He was in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment.[6] He served as Chairman of the House Revenue Committee, the Mental Health Investigating Committee, the Energy and Environment Committee, the Illinois Economic Fiscal Commission, and the Energy Resources Commission He served on the House Public Utilities Committee and as House Minority Whip for two terms.[2]
Pierce explored running for the Democratic nomination for Illinois Attorney General in the 1982 primary, but stepped aside after failing to be slated by the Cook County Democratic Party in favor of Neil Hartigan. Hartigan would go on to beat incumbent Tyrone C. Fahner.[7] In 1983, rather than run for an eleventh term, Pierce chose to retire. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat and former Lake County Clerk Grace Mary Stern.[8]
Mayor of Highland Park
Pierce was elected Mayor of Highland Park in 1987 and reelected in 1991. In 1995, he was defeated for a third term by Trustee Raymond Geraci. He defeated Geraci in the 1999 election and served a final term from 1999 to 2003.[9][2]
