5 Things You Didn't Know About Bud Pierce

The GOP nominee for governor just yanked his endorsement of Trump.

By Nigel Jaquiss

Dr. William "Bud" Pierce is the Republican nominee for governor. The Salem oncologist, 59, upset the better-known Allen Alley in the May primary and will debate incumbent Gov. Kate Brown in Bend on Sept. 25 in the first of five scheduled debates.

Here are five things voters should know about him.

1. He's from California. Pierce grew up in Moreno Valley east of Los Angeles, and attended the University of California-Riverside and earned a Ph.D. and M.D. in pathology at UCLA.

2. He runs a chain of cancer clinics. In 1994, Pierce opened an oncology practice in Salem. It's expanded to include three clinics in the city.

3. He's a Portlander, sometimes. Pierce lives in the same modest Salem home he bought in 1994, but purchased a $1.45 million condo in the Pearl in 2008.

4. He likes to bake. Carrot cake is his specialty.

5. This week, he yanked his endorsement of Donald Trump. Pierce has a history of working with Democrats: He's given at least $35,000 to Democratic legislative candidates since 2010, including $17,500 to Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem).

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