1973 Cleveland mayoral election

The Cleveland mayoral election of 1973 saw the reelection of Ralph Perk.

1973 Cleveland mayoral election

← 1971 November 6, 1973 1975 →

Nominee Ralph Perk Mercedes Cotner Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 90,350 45,267 Percentage 66.62% 33.38%

Mayor before election Ralph Perk Republican Elected mayor Ralph Perk Republican

This was the first Cleveland mayoral election to use a nonpartisan system.^[1]

Primary election

Candidates

• James M. Carney, businessman and 1971 Democratic Party nominee for mayor^[2]
• Ralph Perk, incumbent mayor
• Joseph Pirincin, 1971 Socialist Labor Party nominee for mayor^[3]
• Robbie Scherr

Results

Primary election results^[4]

Candidate		Votes	%
Ralph Perk (incumbent)		56,560	54.92
James M. Carney		44,459	43.17
Robbie Scherr		1,126	1.09
Joseph Pirincin		838	0.81
Total votes		102,983	100

General election

On October 11, James M. Carney withdrew from the race, citing "personal" reasons.^[2] Carney's campaign committee selected then-City Council Clerk Mercedes R. Cotner to replace him on the ballot.^[5]

Results

Cleveland mayoral election, 1973^[6]

Candidate		Votes	%
Ralph Perk (incumbent)		90,350	66.62
Mercedes Cotner		45,267	33.38
Total votes		135,617	100