1929 Los Angeles mayoral election

The 1929 Los Angeles mayoral election took place on June 9, 1929. Incumbent George E. Cryer chose not contest the election and retire from office, making it the first open seat since 1911. The race was won by John Clinton Porter, who defeated Councilman William G. Bonelli, John R. Quinn, and 11 other candidates.

1929 Los Angeles mayoral election

← 1925 June 9, 1929 (1929-06-09) 1933 →

Candidate John C. Porter William G. Bonelli First round 75,198 36.4% 45,200 21.9% Runoff 151,905 58.8% 106,515 41.2%   Candidate John R. Quinn Perry H. Greer First round 39,425 19.1% 22,022 10.7% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Mayor before election George E. Cryer Elected Mayor John Clinton Porter

Municipal elections in California, including Mayor of Los Angeles, are officially nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.^[1]

Background

Because of accusations of corruption and the straining of Mayor Cryer's relationship with Kent Kane Parrot, Parrot leaked to the Los Angeles Record that he would not seek re-election.^[2][3] Cryer himself announced that he would not run for re-election in late February 1929.^[3] Democratic John Clinton Porter and Republican William G. Bonelli both campaigned for the office, as well as Republican John R. Quinn, Democratic councilmember Charles J. Colden, and President of the Los Angeles City Council Boyle Workman.^[4]

Bonelli was criticized during his campaign for sending an appeal for votes and an attack on Chief James E. Davis and the Police Commission.^[5][6]

Results

Los Angeles mayoral primary election, May 2, 1929^[7]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Clinton Porter		75,198	36.42
William G. Bonelli		45,200	21.89
John R. Quinn		39,425	19.09
Perry H. Greer		22,022	10.67
William La Plante		8,182	3.96
Charles J. Colden		4,331	2.098
Carlin G. Smith		3,550	1.72
Nicholas B. Harris		3,503	1.70
Lloyd S. Nix		2,361	1.14
Boyle Workman		2,057	1.00
Charles Hopper		207	0.10
Ralph L. Knapp		188	0.09
Adam C. Derkum		179	0.09
David Horsley		73	0.04
Total votes		206,476	100.00

Los Angeles mayoral general election, June 9, 1929^[8]

Candidate		Votes	%
John Clinton Porter		151,905	58.78
William G. Bonelli		106,515	41.22
Total votes		258,420	100.00

References and footnotes

1. "LOS ANGELES: STRUCTURE OF A CITY GOVERNMENT" (PDF). League of Women Voters.
2. Sitton, Tom (1985). "The "Boss" Without a Machine: Kent K. Parrot and Los Angeles Politics in the 1920s". Southern California Quarterly. 67 (4). University of California Press for Southern California Quarterly: 365–387. doi:10.2307/41171180. JSTOR 41171180.
3. The Watchman (March 1, 1929). "Mayor Cryer Announces He Will Not Make Race". Los Angeles Times.
4. "The Political Graveyard: American Legion, politicians, California". politicalgraveyard.com.
5. "Bonelli Seeks Police Votes," Los Angeles Times, May 4, 1929, p. A-1
6. "Bonelli and the Police," Los Angeles Times, May 5, 1929, p. B-4
7. Los Angeles Times, May 9, 1929, pages 1 and 2
8. "Los Angeles Mayor". Our Campaigns.

External links

• Office of the City Clerk, City of Los Angeles