1971 San Francisco mayoral election

Last updated

1971 San Francisco mayoral election
Flag of San Francisco.svg
  1967 November 2, 1971 1975  
  Joseph Alioto 1968 Salvaged Crop.jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Joseph Alioto Harold Dobbs
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote95,74468,637
Percentage38.6%27.66%

  Dianne Feinstein 1971 Salvaged Crop.jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Dianne Feinstein Fred Selinger
Party Democratic Nonpartisan
Popular vote53,91113,902
Percentage21.8%5.6%

Mayor before election

Joseph Alioto
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Joseph Alioto
Democratic

The San Francisco mayoral election of 1971 was held on November 2, 1971, with incumbent Joseph Alioto being re-elected with 38.6 percent of the vote, from among 11 candidates, there being no provision for a runoff.

Contents

Campaign

The three major contenders—Mayor Joe Alioto; Harold Dobbs, former member of the Board of Supervisors; and Dianne Feinstein, president of the Board of Supervisors—tried to outdo one another as advocates for law and order. Alioto challenged Dobbs to commit to keeping Police Chief Donald Scott and accused Feinstein of wanting to create a civilian review board to investigate police conduct. Dobbs would not commit to a particular police chief but did plan to appoint a new police commission. Feinstein planned to "serve notice on the pusher, the mugger and the thief" and "break the back of crime", while denying advocating a civilian review board but wanting a "strong and independent police commission." [1]

Feinstein, the only woman in the race, charged her opponents with distorting her positions, especially her position on school busing, which the two other main contenders, Alioto and Dobbs, opposed. The issue was raised as the result of an unpopular court order forcing the S.F. school district to begin busing to achieve ethnic balance in elementary schools. [2]

Former newspaper editor Scott Newhall proposed staging a world ecology fair and replacing California's water plan by importing icebergs, and imputed little difference between the top three contenders, whom he lumped together as "Joe Dobbstein". [2]

Alioto was a slight favorite to win in spite of being scheduled to go on trial the following January on federal charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, and using the mail to promote bribery of a public official. As of November, Dobbs, the only Republican in the race, had passed Feinstein in polls and was gaining on Alioto. [2]

Results

The result of the November 2 election was the re-election of Alioto by a 3–2 margin over his nearest challenger. Alioto quoted Jackie Gleason—"How sweet it is!"—at a victory celebration and referred to his federal indictment as an attempt by the "national administration" to "knock out a mayor". [3]

Among other races on the ballot was Richard Hongisto's surprise victory for sheriff over incumbent Matthew Carberry. [3]

On the ballot was a referendum limiting new-building heights to six stories, which was defeated. [3]

A referendum to make the school board an elective one, it being the only appointive such board in the state, passed. The school-board measure was regarded as a reaction to busing initiated by the school board under court order. [3]

Another measure approved was to keep cable car service at no less than current levels. [3]

San Francisco mayoral election, 1971 [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Joseph Alioto (incumbent) 95,744 38.6
Republican Harold Dobbs 68,63727.7
Democratic Dianne Feinstein 53,91121.8
Nonpartisan Fred Selinger13,9025.6
Nonpartisan Scott Newhall 8,5343.4
Nonpartisan Tony Serra 2,7241.1
Nonpartisan Nathan Weinstein1,5410.6
Nonpartisan John C. Diamante1,4770.6
Nonpartisan Stanley Lee Cotton6700.3
Nonpartisan John Gardner Brent6610.3
Nonpartisan Jeffrey R. Chaskin3040.1

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Moscone</span> American lawyer and 37th Mayor of San Francisco from 1976 to 1978

George Richard Moscone was an attorney and Democratic politician who was the 37th mayor of San Francisco, California from January 1976 until his assassination in November 1978. He was known as "The People's Mayor," who opened up City Hall and its commissions to reflect the diversity of San Francisco, appointing African Americans, Asian Americans, and gay people. Moscone served in the California State Senate from 1967 until becoming mayor. In the Senate, he served as majority leader. Moscone is remembered for being an advocate of civil progressivism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Alioto</span> 36th Mayor of San Francisco from 1968 to 1976

Joseph Lawrence Alioto was an American politician who served as the 36th mayor of San Francisco, California, from 1968 to 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michela Alioto-Pier</span> American politician

Michela Alioto-Pier is an American politician and small business owner who served as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2004 to 2011. A Democrat, she represented District 2, encompassing the Marina and Pacific Heights neighborhoods. She previously served as a member of the San Francisco Port Commission. She was appointed to the Board of Supervisors by Gavin Newsom after he was elected mayor, in 2003. Newsom himself was initially appointed to this seat by former mayor Willie Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Wachs</span> American lawyer and politician

Joel Wachs is an American former politician and lawyer. He is the president of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in New York City. He was a member of the Los Angeles City Council for 30 years, where he was known for his promotion of the arts, support of gay causes, advocacy of rent control and other economic measures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosalind Wiener Wyman</span> American politician (1930–2022)

Rosalind Wiener Wyman was an American politician, Los Angeles City Councilmember, and California Democratic political figure who, at 22 years old, was the youngest person ever elected to the Los Angeles City Council, and only the second woman to serve there. Her City Council tenure ran 12 years, representing the city's Fifth District. Wyman was highly influential in bringing the Brooklyn Dodgers from New York to Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles. She helped lead the successful campaigns of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and in 2019, was reported to be California's oldest DNC delegate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angela Alioto</span> American lawyer and politician

Angela Mia Alioto Veronese is an American attorney, politician, member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and founder of the Knights of Saint Francis at the Porziuncola Nuova. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the daughter of Joseph L. Alioto, the 36th mayor of San Francisco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayor of San Francisco</span> Head of the consolidated city-county government of San Francisco, California, US

The mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of the San Francisco city and county government. The officeholder has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch. The mayor serves a four-year term and is limited to two successive terms. Because of San Francisco's status as a consolidated city-county, the mayor also serves as the head of government of the county; both entities have been governed together by a combined set of governing bodies since 1856.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 United States Senate election in Massachusetts</span> Election

The United States Senate election of 1978 in Massachusetts was held on November 7, 1978, with the incumbent Republican Senator Edward Brooke being defeated by Democratic Congressman Paul Tsongas.

Harold Stanley Dobbs was an influential civic leader in San Francisco, California. He was a lawyer, businessman, politician, and leader in the Jewish community, founding Mel's Drive-In and serving as president of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 San Francisco mayoral election</span>

The 2011 San Francisco mayoral election was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, to elect the mayor of San Francisco. The incumbent Ed Lee, appointed to fill the vacant mayoral seat, succeeded in his bid to become the first elected Asian-American mayor of a major American city.

The San Francisco Ethics Commission is a public agency tasked with maintaining city bylaws [clarification needed, there is no "city" bylaws, each Board or Commission or policy body has its own bylaws] in San Francisco, California. The commission specifically files and audits campaign finance disclosure statements, handles campaign consultant registration and regulation. They also handle lobbyist registration and regulation along with the filing of officer for statements of economic interest and the administration of the Whistleblower program. Lastly, they mitigate investigations of ethics complaints, enforce education and training and provide advice and statistical reporting.

Kathleen Sullivan Alioto is an American educator and politician who served on the Boston School Committee as a member (1974–79) and its president (1977). She played a role in the desegregation of the Boston public schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayoralty of Dianne Feinstein</span> 38th Mayor of San Francisco (1978–1988)

The mayoralty of Dianne Feinstein lasted from November 27, 1978, to January 8, 1988, while she served as the 38th Mayor of San Francisco. Feinstein gained the position following the Moscone–Milk assassinations, in which her predecessor, Mayor George Moscone, was killed by Dan White, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She was formally appointed to the position by the Board of Supervisors by a vote of six to two and inaugurated on December 4, 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street Artists Program of San Francisco</span> Municipal arts program

The Street Artists Program of San Francisco is a municipal arts program in which independent street artists and craftspeople sell their art and craft items in designated public spaces in the city of San Francisco, California. The artists are licensed by the San Francisco Arts Commission and are only allowed to sell work that has been "predominantly created or significantly altered in form" by the street artist. The Arts Commission currently licenses approximately 400 street artists, whose licensing fees cover all program costs. The program generates an estimated $4 million annually for the city's economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in California</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in California took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent California, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civic Center Plaza</span> Plaza in San Francisco, United States

Civic Center Plaza, also known as Joseph Alioto Piazza, is the 4.53-acre (1.83 ha) plaza immediately east of San Francisco City Hall in Civic Center, San Francisco, in the U.S. state of California. Civic Center Plaza occupies two blocks bounded by McAllister, Larkin, Grove, and Carlton B. Goodlett, divided into a north block and south block by the former alignment of Fulton Street. The block north of Fulton is built over a three-story parking garage ; the block south of Fulton lies over a former exhibition space, Brooks Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 San Francisco mayoral special election</span>

A special election was held for Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco on June 5, 2018, to fill the remainder of the term of Ed Lee, who had died in office on December 12, 2017. Upon Lee's death, London Breed, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, became Acting Mayor of San Francisco, but a vote of six supervisors replaced Breed with Supervisor Mark Farrell. The mayoral election was held concurrently with the statewide direct primary election. In San Francisco, the election for the eighth district member of the board of supervisors was also on the ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 San Francisco Board of Supervisors election</span>

In 2018, five of the eleven seats of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors were on the ballot in the 2018 San Francisco Board of Supervisors elections. A special election was held on June 5 for one of the five seats, while the other four were decided on the November 6 general election ballot. The elections followed the ranked-choice voting format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 San Francisco District Attorney special election</span> Special election following recall of Chesa Boudin

The 2022 San Francisco District Attorney special election was held on November 8, 2022, following the successful recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. It was held concurrent with the 2022 statewide general elections.

References

  1. Lembke, Daryl (October 30, 1971). "Major S.F. Mayoral Hopefuls Push Law and Order Positions". Los Angeles Times. p. A1 via ProQuest.
  2. 1 2 3 Lembke, Daryl (November 2, 1971). "Woman Says S.F. Mayoral Opponents Distort Her Views". Los Angeles Times. p. A3 via ProQuest.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Lembke, Daryl (November 3, 1971). "Alioto Reelected, High-Rise Limit Defeated by S.F. Voters". Los Angeles Times. p. A1 via ProQuest.
  4. "San Francisco Mayor Race - November 2, 1971". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 7, 2018.