1971 Cleveland mayoral election

1971 Cleveland mayoral election

November 2, 1971

Nominee Ralph Perk Arnold R. Pinkney James M. Carney Party Republican Independent Democratic Popular vote 88,744 72,785 65,877 Percentage 38.73% 31.76% 28.75%

Mayor before election Carl Stokes Democratic Elected mayor Ralph Perk Republican

The Cleveland mayoral election of 1971 saw the election of Ralph Perk.

This was the last officially partisan mayoral election in Cleveland. Subsequent elections have used a nonpartisan system.

Nominations

Primaries were held on September 28.

Democratic primary

1971 Cleveland mayoral Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James M. Carney	74,031	52.76%
	Democratic	Anthony J. Garofoli	60,141	42.86%
	Democratic	Patrick L. Gerity	6,149	4.38%
Turnout			140,321

Republican primary

1971 Cleveland mayoral Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ralph Perk	12,156	66.95%
	Republican	George Voinovich	6,000	33.05%
Turnout			18,156

General election

1971 Cleveland mayoral election (general election)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ralph Perk	88,744	38.73%
	Independent	Arnold R. Pinkney	72,785	31.76%
	Democratic	James M. Carney	65,877	28.75%
	Socialist Labor	Joseph Pirincin	1,740	0.76%
Turnout			229,146