1971 Philadelphia mayoral election

The Philadelphia mayoral election of 1971 saw the election of Frank Rizzo.

1971 Philadelphia mayoral election

Turnout	77%[1] 4 pp
Nominee Frank Rizzo Thacher Longstreth Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 394,067 345,912 Percentage 52.87% 46.41%
Mayor before election James Hugh Joseph Tate Democratic Elected Mayor Frank Rizzo Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• William J. Green III, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district
• Ira Einhorn, counterculture figure and future convicted murderer
• Frank Lomento, pretzel vendor
• James E. Poole
• Albert Sprague, member of Local 141 of the Lithographers and Photo Engravers International Union[2]
• Frank Rizzo, Police Commissioner and acting Mayor
• Hardy Williams, State Representative from the 191st district

Withdrew

• David Cohen, former City Councilman (endorsed Green)

Campaign

Rizzo had a reputation for his harsh policing style, and as called "the toughest cop in America".[3] He began his candidacy as the frontrunner for the nomination, with the endorsement of the city's Democratic organization.[3]

Rizzo refused to debate or attend the same events as his opponents.[3] Green refused to discus most issues, and avoided interviews or written questions by the media or civic groups.[3] He also refused to join his opponents in testifying on the city's financial problems before the Philadelphia City Council.[3] Rizzo also did not make many campaign appearances, making only a single appearance a day and only appearing in white ethnic neighborhoods considered to be friendly towards him.[3]

Rizzo repeatedly insisted that he was "not a politician".[3] Rizzo took a position against additional taxes.[3]

Rizzo had earned goodwill with many voters, who perceived his command of the police department as having staved off the sort of violent rioting other cities had experienced years earlier.[3]

Green warned voters that it would be a "disaster" if America's then-fourth largest city were to be led by Rizzo.[3]

Liberal politicians primarily supported Green.[3] Shortly before the primary, governor Milton Shapp endorsed Green (after which Rizzo attacked Shapp's record).[3]

Green's camp had attempted to get Williams to withdraw, in order to unite liberal voters around Green and against Rizzo. Williams refused.[3]

Williams was the first well-known African American to run for mayor of Philadelphia.[4]

After Shapp accused Rizzo of police brutality and Pennsylvania Attorney General J . Shane Creamer found Rizzo guilty of having beaten a black demonstator in 1965, Rizzo dismissed this as a political "cheap shot".[3]

The Philadelphia Bulletin argued that the real race was not between Rizzo and Green, but between incumbent mayor Tate and governor Shapp for control of the Philadelphia Democratic Party.[3] This newspaper declined to endorse a candidate.[3]

Results

Philadelphia mayoral Democratic primary, 1987

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank Rizzo	176,621	48.86%
	Democratic	William J. Green III	127,902	35.38%
	Democratic	Hardy Williams	45,026	12.46%
	Democratic	David A. Cohen	4,176	1.16%
	Democratic	James E. Poole	2,774	0.77%
	Democratic	Frank Lomento	2,454	0.68%
	Democratic	Albert Sprague	1,534	0.42%
	Democratic	Ira Einhorn	1,022	0.28%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Thacher Longstreth, At-large City Councilman and candidate for Mayor in 1955

Results

Longstreth faced only nominal opposition for the nomination.[3]

Independents and third parties

Conservative

• Joseph J. Frieri, candidate for Mayor in 1971

Constitution

• Clarissa Cain, candidate for City Controller in 1969 and Governor in 1970

Socialist Labor

• George S. Taylor, perennial candidate

Socialist Workers

• Jean Savage

General election

Campaign

Rizzo's campaign slogan "Rizzo means business".[5] Rizzo benefited from white racial backlash.[5] He campaigned primarily in white, working class areas of the city.[5]

Results

1971 Philadelphia mayoral election (general election)[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank Rizzo	394,067	52.87%
	Republican	Thacher Longstreth	345,912	46.41%
	Constitution Party (United States)	Joseph J. Frieri	2,456	0.33%
	Conservative	Clarissa Cain	1,054	0.14%
	Socialist Labor	George S. Taylor	948	0.13%
	Socialist Workers	Jean Savage	919	0.12%
Turnout			745,356

References

1. Denvir, Daniel (22 May 2015). "Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way". City Lab. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
2. "5th Philadelphia Candidate". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
3. Janson, Donald (19 May 1971). "Rizzo Wins Race in Philadelphia". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
4. Warner, Bob (20 March 2015). "Is Every Philly Mayor's Race About Race?". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
5. Lamis, Renée M. (2009). The Realignment of Pennsylvania Politics Since 1960: Two-Party Competition in a Battleground State. Penn State Press. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-0-271-08577-7.
6. "Mayors of the City of Philadelphia 1691-2000". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved 28 April 2019.