1979 Boston mayoral election explained

Election Name:	1979 Boston mayoral election
Country:	Boston
Type:	Presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1975 Boston mayoral election
Previous Year:	1975
Election Date:	November 6, 1979
Next Election:	1983 Boston mayoral election
Next Year:	1983
Image1:	Kevin White (cropped) (a).jpg
Candidate1:	Kevin White
Party1:	Nonpartisan candidate
Popular Vote1:	78,048
Percentage1:	54.82%
Mayor
Before Election:	Kevin White
After Election:	Kevin White
Candidate2:	Joseph F. Timilty
Party2:	Nonpartisan candidate
Popular Vote2:	64,269
Percentage2:	45.14%

The Boston mayoral election of 1979 occurred on Tuesday, November 6, 1979, between Mayor Kevin White and state senator Joseph F. Timilty. This was the second election in a row between White and Timilty. White once again defeated Timilty and was elected to a fourth term.

The nonpartisan municipal preliminary election was held on September 25, 1979.

Candidates

• Joseph F. Timilty, member of the Massachusetts Senate since 1972. Member of the Boston City Council from 1967 to 1971.
• Kevin White, Mayor of Boston since 1968, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth from 1961 to 1967.

Candidates eliminated in preliminary

• Luis F. Castro, member of the Socialist Workers Party.
• David Finnegan, member of the Boston School Committee since 1975.
• Mel King, Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 1973.
• Laurence R. Sherman, member of the U.S. Labor Party.

Results

Candidates	Preliminary Election^[1]		General Election^[2]
Votes	%	Votes	%
Kevin White (incumbent)	50,272	42.39	78,048	54.82
Joseph F. Timilty	33,026	27.85	64,269	45.14
Mel King	17,490	14.75
David Finnegan	17,306	14.59
Laurence R. Sherman	297	0.25
Luis F. Castro	199	0.17

See also

• List of mayors of Boston, Massachusetts

Notes and References

1. Book: Annual Report of the Election Department. 1980. 36. Boston [Election Dept.].
2. Book: Annual Report of the Election Department. 1980. 82. Boston [Election Dept.].