Sallade, George Wahr, 1922-

Ann Arbor, Michigan, attorney and local Democratic Party activist.

From the description of George Wahr Sallade papers, 1952-1993. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 78847957

From the description of George Wahr Sallade papers, 1953-1988. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34418701

George Wahl Sallade, longtime Ann Arbor political activist, was born on November 16, 1922. He was educated at the University of Michigan and received an undergraduate degree in political science in 1943, and a law degree in 1961. A year later he became a practicing attorney in Ann Arbor.

Although Sallade was active in Michigan politics prior to 1950, it was in that year that he ran for and was elected to his first public office - that of Ann Arbor city councilman on the Republican ticket. He was elected city council president in 1953, and a year and a half later made a bid for higher office. He ran successfully and was elected state representative for the first district. He remained in the state legislature for six years, where he was known as a leader of the "Young Turks," a group of Republican legislators who tried to steer the party in a more liberal direction and often opposed party conservatives on matters relating to taxation and social programs.

Several years after he left the legislature, Sallade changed party affiliation and became active in the state Democratic party. He served as chairman of the Washtenaw County Democratic party from 1965-1969, and chairman of the Second Congressional District Democratic party, 1971-1975 and 1982-1983. Despite unsuccessful bids for the state senate in 1966 and 1970, the county prosecutor's seat in 1972 and 1984, and the United State Congress in 1982, Sallade remained (and remains) an active and influential party member. In 1984 he served as co-chairman of the Gary Hart presidential campaign in Michigan.

Outside of politics, Sallade has long been involved in the publishing business. In the 1950s he was general manager of Wahr's Bookstore in Ann Arbor, and he has been president of the George Wahr Publishing Company for many years. In the mid-1970s he published a short-lived, local morning newspaper, Good Morning Michigan, and in 1985 began to publish his own political newsletter, "Michigan Around and About."

From the guide to the George Wahr Sallade papers, 1952-1993, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)