Richard Lugar Republican Richard Lugar Republican The Indianapolis mayoral election of 1971 took place on November 2, 1971.

This was the first election after the creation of the Unigov.

[1] Incumbent Republican Richard Lugar was reelected to a second term.

Lugar's challenger had been Democrat John Neff, a former state senator.

Neff had campaigned in opposition to the Unigov, promising to seek its abolishment if elected.