# 1979 Philadelphia mayoral election

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Government :
vte :
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.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Charles W. Bowser, former Deputy Mayor and independent candidate for mayor in 1975
* 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 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | William J. Green III | 215,742 | 51.69% |
| Democratic | Charles Bowser | 178,376 | 42.74% |
| Democratic | William Klenk (withdrawn) | 10,628 | 2.55% |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| Democratic | Albert Gaudiosi (withdrawn) | 1,502 | 0.36% |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

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

### Results

Marston was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

## General election
### Candidates

* Lucien Blackwell, City Councilman from District 3 (Consumer)
* William J. Green III, former U.S. Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1976 (Democratic)
* David W. Marston, former U.S. Attorney and candidate for governor in 1978 (Republican)

### Results

1979 Philadelphia mayoral election (general election) :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | 595,875 | |