1971 San Francisco mayoral election

The three major contenders—Mayor Joe Alioto; Harold Dobbs, former member of the Board of Supervisors; and Dianne Feinstein, president of the Board of Supervisors—tried to outdo one another as advocates for law and order. Alioto challenged Dobbs to commit to keeping Police Chief Donald Scott and accused Feinstein of wanting to create a civilian review board to investigate police conduct. Dobbs would not commit to a particular police chief but did plan to appoint a new police commission. Feinstein planned to "serve notice on the pusher, the mugger and the thief" and "break the back of crime", while denying advocating a civilian review board but wanting a "strong and independent police commission."[1]

Feinstein, the only woman in the race, charged her opponents with distorting her positions, especially her position on school busing, which the two other main contenders, Alioto and Dobbs, opposed. The issue was raised as the result of an unpopular court order forcing the S.F. school district to begin busing to achieve ethnic balance in elementary schools.[2]

Former newspaper editor Scott Newhall proposed staging a world ecology fair and replacing California's water plan by importing icebergs, and imputed little difference between the top three contenders, whom he lumped together as "Joe Dobbstein".[2]

Alioto was a slight favorite to win in spite of being scheduled to go on trial the following January on federal charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, and using the mail to promote bribery of a public official. As of November, Dobbs, the only Republican in the race, had passed Feinstein in polls and was gaining on Alioto.[2]

The result of the November 2 election was the re-election of Alioto by a 3–2 margin over his nearest challenger. Alioto quoted Jackie Gleason—"How sweet it is!"—at a victory celebration and referred to his federal indictment as an attempt by the "national administration" to "knock out a mayor".[3]

Among other races on the ballot was Richard Hongisto's surprise victory for sheriff over incumbent Matthew Carberry.[3]

On the ballot was a referendum limiting new-building heights to six stories, which was defeated.[3]

A referendum to make the school board an elective one, it being the only appointive such board in the state, passed. The school-board measure was regarded as a reaction to busing initiated by the school board under court order.[3]

Another measure approved was to keep cable car service at no less than current levels.[3]

• Alvin Duskin