[1] In 1947, he ran in the special election to fill the 9th congressional district seat following the death of Charles L. Gifford.

[3] In 1951, Peirce defeated nine year incumbent Arthur N. Harriman to become Mayor of New Bedford.

During his tenure as Mayor, Peirce ordered a gambling raid that resulted in the arrest of 33 men and offered his office at city hall as a residence for stray dogs in order to save money on a contract with the Animal Rescue League and protest the organization's acquisition of an electrocution box to euthanize dogs.

[4][5] On November 25, 1952, Peirce, city council president Leonard T. Healy, two police detectives, and two others were indicted for conspiracy in connection with gambling.

Following his conviction, Perice maintained his innocence and vowed to run the city from his jail cell.