The incumbent mayor, Joe Barr of the Democratic Party chose not to run for his third term.

He ran an aggressive campaign and characterized himself to the public as a reform.

Court of Common Pleas Judge Harry Kramer, the endorsed candidate, launched a series of sharp personal attacks on Flaherty, which undermined his own campaign and hastened his defeat.

As is typical in the heavily Democratic city, Flaherty won by over 30 points.

The Republican nominee was John Tabor, the state's last Secretary of Internal Affairs (under the 1968 Pennsylvania Constitution, this elected position, considered to be the state's third highest office, was eliminated).