1971 San Francisco mayoral election explained

Election Name:1971 San Francisco mayoral election
Country:San Francisco
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1967 San Francisco mayoral election
Previous Year:1967
Next Election:1975 San Francisco mayoral election
Next Year:1975
Election Date:November 2, 1971
Candidate1:Joseph Alioto
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:95,744
Percentage1:38.6%
Candidate2:Harold Dobbs
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:68,637
Percentage2:27.66%
Candidate4:Dianne Feinstein
Party4:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote4:53,911
Percentage4:21.8%
Image5:3x4.svg
Candidate5:Fred Selinger
Party5:Nonpartisan candidate
Popular Vote5:13,902
Percentage5:5.6%
Mayor
Before Election:Joseph Alioto
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Joseph Alioto
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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.

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".

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.

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.

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

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.

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

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Lembke . Daryl . Major S.F. Mayoral Hopefuls Push Law and Order Positions . October 30, 1971 . A1 . Los Angeles Times . ProQuest .
  2. News: Lembke . Daryl . Woman Says S.F. Mayoral Opponents Distort Her Views . November 2, 1971 . A3 . Los Angeles Times . ProQuest .
  3. News: Lembke . Daryl . Alioto Reelected, High-Rise Limit Defeated by S.F. Voters . November 3, 1971 . A1 . Los Angeles Times . ProQuest .