1979 Philadelphia mayoral election

1979 Philadelphia mayoral election
Turnout	60% 5 pp
Mayor before election; Frank Rizzo; Democratic	Elected mayor ; William J. Green III; Democratic

The 1979 Philadelphia mayoral election saw the election of William J. Green III.

Ahead of the election there had been an unsuccessful effort to amend the city charter to allow incumbent mayor Frank Rizzo to run for a third consecutive term.^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Charles W. Bowser, independent candidate for mayor in 1975^[2]
George G. Britt, Jr., management consultant and perennial candidate
C. Douglas Clark
William J. Green III, former U.S. Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1976
Frank Lomento, pretzel vendor and perennial candidate
Ralph C. Morrone
Ronald David Tinney
Gil W. Veasey
Inez Walker

Withdrew

Albert V. Gaudiosi, former City Commerce Director
William G. Klenk, City Controller

Results

Philadelphia mayoral Democratic primary, 1979
	Candidate	Votes	%
Democratic	William J. Green III	215,742	51.69%
Democratic	Charles Bowser	178,376	42.74%
Democratic	William Klenk	10,628	2.55%
Democratic	Inez Walker	2,816	0.68%
Democratic	Gil Veasey	2,524	0.61%
Democratic	George G. Britt, Jr.	2,482	0.60%
Democratic	Frank Lomento	1,616	0.39%
Democratic	Albert Gaudiosi	1,502	0.36%
Democratic	C. Douglas Clark	725	0.17%
Democratic	Ralph C. Morrone	489	0.12%
Democratic	Ronald David Tinney	460	0.11%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

David W. Marston, former U.S. Attorney and candidate for governor in 1978

Results

Marston was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Independents and third parties

Consumers

Lucien Blackwell, City Councilman from District 3

General election

Results

1979 Philadelphia mayoral election (general election)^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William J. Green III	313,345	52.59%
	Republican	David W. Marston	174,083	29.22%
	Consumer	Lucien Blackwell	108,447	18.20%
Turnout			595,875

References

^ Denvir, Daniel (May 22, 2015). "Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way". City Lab. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Coard, Michael (February 10, 2018). "Charles Bowser: The Ultimate Power Player". Philly Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
^ "Mayors of the City of Philadelphia 1691-2000". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved April 28, 2019.

[turnout-1] Denvir, Daniel (May 22, 2015). "Voter Turnout in U.S. Mayoral Elections Is Pathetic, But It Wasn't Always This Way". City Lab. Retrieved April 28, 2019.

[coard-2] Coard, Michael (February 10, 2018). "Charles Bowser: The Ultimate Power Player". Philly Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2019.

[3] "Mayors of the City of Philadelphia 1691-2000". City of Philadelphia. Retrieved April 28, 2019.

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