Luke Ravenstahl

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Luke Ravenstahl
Ravenstahl speaking to the AFL-CIO, 2009
59th Mayor of Pittsburgh
In office
September 1, 2006 – January 6, 2014
Preceded by Bob O'Connor
Succeeded by Bill Peduto
President of the Pittsburgh City Council
In office
December 6, 2005[1] – September 1, 2006
Preceded by Gene Ricciardi
Succeeded by Doug Shields
Member of the Pittsburgh City Council from the 1st District
In office
January 5, 2004[2] – September 1, 2006
Preceded by Barbara Burns
Succeeded by Darlene Harris
Personal details
Born Luke Robert Ravenstahl
(1980-02-06) February 6, 1980
Troy Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Erin Lynn Feith (2004-2011)
Alma mater Washington & Jefferson College
Religion Roman Catholic
Signature

Luke Robert Ravenstahl (born February 6, 1980) is an American politician who served as the 59th Mayor of Pittsburgh from 2006 until 2014. A Democrat, he became the youngest mayor in Pittsburgh's history in September 2006 at the age of 26.[3] He is among the youngest mayors of a major city in American history.[4]

A graduate of North Catholic High School, Ravenstahl attended the University of Pittsburgh before graduating from Washington & Jefferson College. Four months after his graduation, aged 23, he ran for a seat on the Pittsburgh City Council. He was elected and took office in January 2004 before being appointed City Council President in December 2005. After the death of Pittsburgh mayor Bob O'Connor, Ravenstahl became the mayor, per the city's charter, on September 1, 2006. He later won a special election in 2007, and a regular election in 2009. He did not seek reelection in the 2013 election and Democrat Bill Peduto was elected to succeed him as mayor. Ravenstahl's term ended in January 2014.

Personal life

Luke Ravenstahl votes in 2008 Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential Primary on April 22, 2008

Ravenstahl's father, Robert P. Ravenstahl, Jr., is a district magistrate on the Northside,[5] and head coach for the North Catholic High School football team. His grandfather, Robert P. Ravenstahl, Sr., represented the 20th legislative district as a state representative, was a Democratic ward leader in the North Side, and was defeated in the 1976 Democratic primary by a young Tom Murphy, who would go on to become mayor himself.[6] Ravenstahl's mother is currently a teacher's aide with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Ravenstahl is the eldest of three brothers including Adam Ravenstahl, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Ravenstahl graduated from North Catholic High School in 1998, where he was class president and played baseball and football. He attended Washington & Jefferson College, where he graduated with honors with a degree in business administration in December 2002.[7] He was W&J's starting place kicker on the football team for three years and was team captain for his senior year.[7][8][9] He currently holds the school record for most consecutive extra points.[10] Following graduation from W&J, Ravenstahl worked as an account manager for a courier service.[11]

In August 2004, he married Erin Lynn Feith, whom he had begun dating in high school. They resided in the Summer Hill neighborhood of the Northside. Ravenstahl is a Roman Catholic and attends mass weekly at Holy Wisdom Parish on the Northside.[12]

Luke and Erin's only child was born on October 31, 2008 shortly before 9:30 in the morning. He is named Cooper Luke Ravenstahl.

On May 19, 2007, Ravenstahl delivered the keynote address at Washington & Jefferson College's 208th commencement celebration.[9] He served as honorary co-captain with fellow W&J graduate Roger Goodell during W&J's 2006 homecoming football game.[13]

Luke Steelerstahl's egg toss for charity.

As a sign of support for the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2009 AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens, Ravenstahl ceremonially changed his name to "Luke Steelerstahl" on January 14, 2009.[14] Court officials did not actually file the name change paperwork, and his legal name remains Ravenstahl.[15]

On November 23, 2009, Ravenstahl announced that he and his wife, Erin, had split and that he has moved out of the home that they had shared. He was quoted as saying "She doesn't like the limelight. She didn't like the fact that I became the mayor. She doesn't like the public nature of the position."[16] On November 24, the mayor announced that he and his wife were "formally separating," but had no plans to officially file for divorce.[17] On March 11, 2011, Erin Ravenstahl filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.[18] Their divorce was finalized in late July 2011.[19]

In 2012, Ravenstahl, along with several members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, made an appearance in The Dark Knight Rises, kicking off to the Gotham Rogues.

City Council

In April 2003, Ravenstahl ran for the Democratic nomination for the Pittsburgh City Council's District 1 seat against incumbent Barbara Burns. Ravenstahl defeated Burns with 54.5% of the vote.[2] He credited his win to a combination of grassroots campaigning, a voter registration drive aimed at 18- to 25- year-olds, and a general dissatisfaction with Mayor Murphy.[20][21] Ravenstahl was sworn in as the youngest member of City Council in Pittsburgh's history in January 2004. During his first few weeks on City Council, Ravenstahl's bill to reduce the newly imposed parking tax from 50% to 33% was vetoed by Mayor Tom Murphy, who was unwilling to balance the budget with $3 million from the Urban Redevelopment Authority.[22]

City Council President

On December 6, 2005, Ravenstahl became the youngest President of the Pittsburgh City Council, when Gene Ricciardi (who had been elected district justice) stepped down from that post in a move seen as paving the way for ally Jim Motznik.[11][23] However, Motznik was unable to secure the votes needed to win the presidency, and Ravenstahl emerged as a compromise candidate.[24] He was re-elected unanimously at the re-organization meeting in January 2006, when the new members of the city council took office. One of his first major hurdles was to deal with the two state budget oversight boards.[25] Per provisions in the city's charter, Ravenstahl ascended from the office of City Council President to Mayor on September 1, 2006, following the death of Mayor Bob O'Connor.

Mayor of Pittsburgh

Elections

Ascension to Mayor

Per provisions in the city's charter, Ravenstahl ascended from the office of City Council President to Mayor on September 1, 2006, following the death of Mayor Bob O'Connor. Due to ambiguous language in the city's charter, a controversy developed about how long Ravenstahl could temporarily serve as mayor before an election had to be held. Ravenstahl stated his desire to fulfill the remainder of O'Connor's term.[26][27][28]

The charter refers to holding a new election when someone ascends to mayor through a vacancy but makes no mention of serving out the full term. It was unclear when the election could or should be held due to a confusing phrase that says the "vacancy in the mayor's office shall be filled at the next election permitted by law", yet not elaborating on what "permitted by law" means.[29]

Ravenstahl instructed the city's legal department to quickly obtain a decision as to when the election should be held.[30] On October 12, 2006, the Allegheny County Board of Elections decided unanimously that mayoral candidates would compete in the May 15, 2007, primary election followed by the November 6, 2007, general election, with the winner of the general election taking office immediately after the certification of the election results for a term ending in January 2010.[31]

In his first official act as mayor, Ravenstahl ordered the city flag at all city locations to be flown at half staff and declared the city in a state of mourning. Ravenstahl and deputy mayor Yarone Zober had been coordinating city government since O'Connor's medical diagnosis in July 2006, which limited O'Connor to the confines of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Shadyside, while O'Connor convalesced.[citation needed]

Media coverage of Ravenstahl has included a feature story in The New York Times, and an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman on September 14, 2006. Ravenstahl was concerned about how appropriate the coverage would appear in the wake of Bob O'Connor's death, but O'Connor's widow encouraged him to participate in the media coverage and continue O'Connor's work as a "cheerleader" for Pittsburgh.[32]

After generally following O'Connor's agenda for the first few months of his term, Ravenstahl began to implement his own agenda, including pursuing a tax break for new housing in downtown, proposing college aid for city high school graduates, improving diversity in city government.[33] He also began replacing O'Connor's staffers with his own.[33] He also continued O'Connor's "311" city help line proposal, as well as the "Redd-Up" crews.[34][35]

2007 Special election

Main article: Pittsburgh mayoral special election, 2007
Ravenstahl debates Mark DeSantis at Point Park University on October 30, 2007.

Ravenstahl was unopposed on the ballot in the Democratic primary, held on May 17, 2007, to finish the remainder of Bob O'Connor's unfinished term. His chief opponent, Pittsburgh City Council member Bill Peduto, withdrew before the primary.[36] His eventual Republican challenger, CEO and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University Mark DeSantis did not appear on the Republican ballot, instead gaining the nomination through a write-in campaign.[37]

DeSantis' candidacy garnered an unusual amount of interest in a city where no Republican had been elected mayor since the Great Depression. He was endorsed by Pittsburgh's two major newspapers, including the conservative-leaning Pittsburgh Tribune Review[38] and the liberal-leaning Pittsburgh Post Gazette.[39] He was also endorsed by the city's police union[40] and was profiled on Fox News.[41]

Ravenstahl defeated DeSantis 63% to 35%.[42][43][44]

2009 Election

On May 19, 2009, Ravenstahl beat City Councilman Patrick Dowd and attorney Carmen Robinson to earn the Democratic nomination in the 2009 election. In the general election, he defeated his two independent competitors to earn a full term as mayor.

2013 Election

On February 19, 2013, Ravenstahl announced his re-election bid for Pittsburgh Mayor.[45] Just 11 days later, he withdrew from the race citing personal reasons. [46] His announcement coincided with recent controversy regarding police credit union accounts. Democratic nominee Bill Peduto was elected mayor instead.[47]

Initiatives and Events

Ravenstahl played an important role in helping other local officials, including Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell negotiate with the Mario Lemieux-led Pittsburgh Penguins ownership group to keep the team in Pittsburgh.[48][49]

Pittsburgh promise

On December 13, 2006 Mayor Ravenstahl launched an historic partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Public Schools to develop 'The Pittsburgh Promise', a college access program and revitalization strategy for the City of Pittsburgh.[50] The Pittsburgh Promise would make higher education achievable for all Pittsburgh Public Schools students regardless of need or income. It also would enhance the economic development of the City. By September 2011 the scholarship fund reached $12.5 million, with students eligible for $40,000 scholarships in two years if they maintain an attendance record of 90% and a minimum GPA of 2.5.[51] The Pittsburgh Promise focuses on more than just help students move on to higher education, it also aims to tackle the City’s declining public school enrollment and overall population. As of 2009, there was a growth in kindergarten enrollment and a shrinking percentage of declines in public school enrollment.[52]

Tree give-away

Every year, Ravenstahl hosts a giveaway of free trees supported by the Shade Tree Commission, Tree Pittsburgh (formerly Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest), and Eisler Nurseries.[53]

Ravenstahl created the tree give away in support of TreeVitalize's goal of planting 20,000 trees by the year 2012.[54]

G20 Comes to Pittsburgh

Further information: 2009 G-20 Pittsburgh summit

In 2009 the Obama Administration announced that the leaders of the world’s largest economies would meet in Pittsburgh for the G20 Summit. Pittsburgh was chosen due to its transformation after the collapse of the Steel Industry with a renewed focus on environmental, economic, and technological innovation. "Pittsburgh boasts world class culture and President approved industries crucial for the growth of a nation".[55] A key to the City’s transformation has been collaboration amongst all sectors of society. Mayor Ravenstahl saw the G20 as an "opportunity to reintroduce the world to Pittsburgh – the new Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh that is doing better than most and providing opportunities for folks. We really want to tell that story of that great turn around the president keeps talking about when he talks about Pittsburgh."[56]

2008 Democratic Presidential Primary in Pennsylvania

Ravenstahl marches with Hillary Clinton and Catherine Baker Knoll in Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2008

Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton at a rally on March 14, 2008, at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. The double endorsements, coupled with endorsements from Governor Ed Rendell and Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, were seen as an indication of her strong support in Pennsylvania.[57] Ravenstahl marched with Clinton the next day in Pittsburgh's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade[58]

Pittsburgh's Third Renaissance

Mayor Ravenstahl unveiled an 11 point plan to usher in Pittsburgh’s Third Renaissance. It included resolving the long term costs of the City, encouraging healthcare and education industries, utilizing the best technology throughout the City, finishing riverfront development, enriching public education, connecting jobs with people, government reform through transparency and civic involvement, ensuring Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods are clean and safe, greening the city, and promoting diversity.[59]

Pittsburgh began to take on revitalization projects and initiatives including, Redd Up Zones, the North Shore Connector, Allegheny Riverfront Vision, Three PNC Plaza, the August Wilson Center, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, and Brownfield site redevelopment that includes South Side Works, Washington’s Landing, Pittsburgh’s Technology Center, and Summerset at Frick Park. Programs such as ServePgh, Green Up, Taking Care of Business, Love Your Block, and the Civic Leadership Academy aid in the City’s Third Renaissance. Ravenstahl also took on financial problems by sharing City’s services and resources through purchasing in bulk with the County and other entities and merging the Housing Authority and the Police Department.[60]

Market Square revitalization

Continuing to push Pittsburgh's third Renaissance, on October 26, 2010, Ravenstahl reopened the newly renovated Market Square. The $5 million improvement project was the culmination of several years of public process, made possible through the leadership, vision and financial contributions of The City of Pittsburgh, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Heinz Endowments, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Colcom Foundation, and the Hillman Foundation.[61]

servePGH initiative

On September 10, 2009, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl pledged that the City of Pittsburgh would help the country achieve the goals of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act by joining Mayor Bloomberg and 15 other mayors from across our nation to launch the Cities of Service coalition.[62] By signing the Declaration of Service, Mayor Ravenstahl committed to develop a coordinated effort to utilize impact volunteerism as a significant municipal strategy to address local challenges.

The City of Pittsburgh’s service blueprint, servePGH, seeks to leverage local human capital through impact volunteerism directed towards two of Mayor Ravenstahl’s top priorities: neighborhood development and youth.

The new 'servePGH website' was created to connect volunteers with the high impact service initiatives described within servePGH, including:

  • Love Your Block: Providing resources for volunteers to revitalize the City – block by block
  • Redd Up Zone: Recruiting volunteers to remove litter and enhance the appearance, safety and cleanliness of Pittsburgh's streets
  • Snow Angels: Matching volunteers with neighbors-in-need to shovel and de-ice their sidewalk during the winter months
  • Mayor’s Mentoring Initiative: The City of Pittsburgh’s first-ever employee volunteer program, allowing City employees weekly leave time to mentor a middle-school student at a Pittsburgh Public School in partnership with the 'Be A 6th Grade Mentor' project.
  • Civic Leadership Academy: A free program about local government created by Mayor Ravenstahl to foster more informed, effective and inspired community and civic leadership

Criticism and controversies

Lemieux Celebrity Invitational Golf incident

Ravenstahl also created controversy for his participation in the $9,000-a-head Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational golf outing in June 2007. His participation was sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Members of the Pittsburgh city ethics board cited concerns about the "perception" that he might owe something to those who subsidized his participation.[63] Republican mayoral candidate Mark DeSantis challenged Ravenstahl to sign an 'ethics pledge' in response to this incident. Six months later, mayor Ravenstahl introduced legislation that would have kept UPMC from paying any future taxes, and possibly some current taxes.[64] Further complicating matters was that the mayor held this for weeks until the very last session of the 2007 City Council (2 of the 9 members were outgoing, and one had resigned under indictment).[65]

Questionable use of police vehicle

Over the weekend of August 18, 2007, Ravenstahl used a Homeland Security funded SUV to go to a Toby Keith concert at the Post Gazette Pavilion. The Mayor's use of the GMC Yukon to travel to the concert may have violated the terms of the grant that funded the purchase of the vehicle. Responding to the allegations of impropriety, Ravenstahl said "I'm still going to continue to be who I'm going to be, and go to concerts like I always have, and go to have a drink with my wife in bars. That's what 27-year-olds do and I shouldn't be any different ... [I]'m not going to change my life to appease the media or appease somebody who wants me to be somebody I'm not. I think the fact that I'm 27 is something the city should embrace and it's something that I've embraced."[66] Sgt. Mona Wallace was reportedly intimidated for reporting the incident to Public Safety Director Michael Huss.[67] Police Chief Nate Harper began disciplinary measures against Wallace, but the reprimand was rescinded by Huss.[66]

Banner-Gate

During the 2008 Stanley Cup playoff run of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Penguins and Reebok proposed putting up 40-foot (12 m) by 85-foot (26 m) advertisements on two downtown buildings. Due to controversy over a no-bid electronic billboard approved by director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority Pat Ford, there was a moratorium on new downtown signage.[68] The Penguins and Reebok thought that they could not get new signage put up during this moratorium, and they contacted the mayor's chief of staff, Yarone Zober, to confirm this. Zober worked with City Council, including Council President Doug Shields to get this done and worked until 10 pm on a Friday night to finalize an agreement. Legislation was written to get the "holiday" banners put up but because of Victoria Day in Canada, Reebok could not get the banners printed in time. Ravenstahl blamed the inability to get the signs printed on City Council.[69] Councilman Bill Peduto, a Penguins season ticket holder, went so far as to call this accusation a "bold faced lie".[70] E-mails obtained by WTAE TV of Pittsburgh between City Bureaucrats, Councilmembers, the Penguins and the Mayor's office supported Peduto's claims.[71]

Police Credit Union accounts

In February 2013 both the FBI and IRS subpoenaed boxes full of documents from police headquarters and the independently run police credit union concerning thousands of deposits and withdrawals of tax payer money from non-authorized accounts, though at least one account dates back to 2004, prior to Mayor Ravenstahl's tenure, and as yet no allegations have been made against Mayor Ravenstahl.[72]

On February 21, 2013 Mayor Ravenstahl admitted that members of his police protection unit also drew from the non-authorized credit union accounts under investigation by the FBI and IRS, though neither he nor the officers were aware those credit cards were tied to the accounts or were unauthorized by the city controller's office.[73]

Other incidents

  • On August 27, 2008, Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford resigned in a tersely worded letter to Ravenstahl and Chief of Staff Yarone Zober.[74] The letter claims that the Ravenstahl administration is characterized by a “culture of deception and corruption.”[75][76] When asked to substantiate these rumors of corruption, Ford lawyer Lawrence Fisher replied: "the way contracts are supposed to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, and the way contributions have been made to the mayor, I think it's self-evident".[77] Specifically, Mr. Fisher referred to the recent awarding of a URA contract to the highest of three bidders, contrary to Pennsylvania state law that states such contracts must be awarded to the "lowest responsible bidder".[78]
In addition to the claims of corruption, Ford called Ravenstahl's "a failed administration" that forced him "to serve as a scapegoat for the inappropriate affairs and activities of others".[79] Councilman William Peduto issued a statement that the contracting issue "goes much further than Pat Ford. Pittsburgh is no longer a city that is open for business; Pittsburgh is a city for sale."[80]
  • In December 2006, Matthew McTish, president of McTish, Kunkel & Associates, gave $10,000 to Ravenstahl's campaign. In August 2007, McTish, Kinkel & Associates was awarded a $525,000 contract by the Urban Redevelopment Authority despite being the highest of three bidders.[78][81] That contract, and other URA dealings, are currently under investigation by the City Controller.[82][83][84]
  • In February 2009, Ravenstahl was criticized for having spent $252,000 of state grant money in 250 trash receptacles bearing his name. The criticism for each trash can, costing over $1,000 a piece, was that (1) the mayor overpaid for them and (2) the display of his name equated into using taxpayer money for publicity purposes.[85] Due to the upcoming Pittsburgh mayoral election, many people have cited a conflict of interest since the new trash cans will have Ravenstahl's name on them while he is running for reelection.[86]

Electoral history

Mayor of Pittsburgh
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct Socialist Workers Votes Pct Libertarian Votes Pct
2007[94] Luke Ravenstahl 43,557 63.2 Mark DeSantis 24,025 34.9% Ryan Scott 550 0.7% Tony Olivia 504 0.7%
Mayor of Pittsburgh
Year Democrat Votes Pct Independent Votes Pct Independent Votes Pct
2009[95][96] Luke Ravenstahl 28,528 55.22% Franco "Doc" Harris 13,060 25.28% Kevin Acklin 9,903 19.17%

See also

References

  1. ↑ Boren, Jeremy (December 6, 2005). "Ravenstahl elected city council president". The Pittsburgh Tribune. Retrieved January 1, 2012. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 McConnell, Amy (January 6, 2004). "Two new council members are sworn in". Retrieved November 27, 2010. 
  3. ↑ Roddy, Dennis B. (September 1, 2006). "Ravenstahl sworn in as Pittsburgh mayor". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2007. 
  4. ↑ Highfield, David (September 4, 2006). "Ravenstahl Among Youngest Mayors Ever". KDKA-TV. Retrieved January 1, 2007. 
  5. ↑ Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania
  6. ↑ Roddy, Dennis (September 3, 2006). "Ravenstahl's political roots go deep on the city's North Side". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PG Publishing Co., Inc.). Retrieved January 24, 2007. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "W&J Graduate Elected Mayor of Pittsburgh" (Press release). Washington & Jefferson College. November 7, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2008. 
  8. ↑ "Ravenstahl, Luke". Education for a Lifetime. Washington & Jefferson College. Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2012-05-15. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Reid, Robert. "Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl Addresses W&J’s Class of 2007" (PDF). Jay Connected. 
  10. ↑ "INDIVIDUAL RECORDS" (PDF). W&J College Football Records. Washington & Jefferson College Athletic Department. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lord, Rich; Bill Toland (September 2, 2006). "New mayor Luke Ravenstahl confident he is ready to lead city". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2007. 
  12. ↑ "About Mayor Luke Ravenstahl". Mayor's Office. Retrieved May 16, 2008. 
  13. ↑ "Mayor of Pittsburgh to Serve as Honorary Co-Captain W&J Homecoming Football Game" (Press release). Washington & Jefferson College. Retrieved May 9, 2008. 
  14. ↑ "Mayor Places Bet on Own Last Name" (Press release). Pittsburgh Mayor's Office. January 14, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009. 
  15. ↑ "Mayor's new name: Steelerstahl". ESPN. January 14, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009. 
  16. ↑ Griffin, Marty (November 24, 2009). "Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Wife Split". CBS Broadcasting. Retrieved November 24, 2009. 
  17. ↑ "Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Wife To Separate". The Pittsburgh Channel. November 23, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009. 
  18. ↑ http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/117846528.html Pittsburgh mayor's wife seeks a divorce
  19. ↑ Ravenstahls' divorce final
  20. ↑ PRIMARY2003
  21. ↑ City council president campaign off to an early start
  22. ↑ Ravenstahl supported bill to cut parking tax
  23. ↑ Jeremy Boren (December 7, 2005). "Ravenstahl elected city council president". Pittsburgh Tribude-review. Retrieved August 11, 2008. 
  24. ↑ On his climb to the summit, councilman loses his footing
  25. ↑ Jeremy Boren (December 14, 2005). "Council urged to share health costs with workers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 11, 2008. 
  26. ↑ Bucsko, Mike (September 4, 2006). "Doubts surround how long Ravenstahl can be mayor". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2007. 
  27. ↑ Lord, Rich (September 2, 2006). "City of Pittsburgh charter vague on length of term for mayor's successor". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2007. 
  28. ↑ Lord, Rich (September 6, 2006). "Former top city lawyer opposes succession opinion". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2007. 
  29. ↑ Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter
  30. ↑ Lord, Rich (September 9, 2006). "Mayor Ravenstahl changes key posts, targets budget". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2007. 
  31. ↑ Rotstein, Gary (October 13, 2006). "Ravenstahl must run next year". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved January 1, 2007. 
  32. ↑ McNulty, Timothy (September 15, 2006). "Ravenstahl finds Letterman's spotlight bittersweet". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (in Post Gazette). Retrieved May 16, 2008. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Lord, Rich (September 2, 2007). "O'Connor left behind one-page 'vision' for city through 2010". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved May 16, 2008. 
  34. ↑ Lord, Rich (May 20, 2007). "Taint of politics colors city's Redd Up work". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved May 16, 2008. 
  35. ↑ Boren, Jeremy (October 24, 2006). "City kicks off help line". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved May 16, 2008. 
  36. ↑ Analysis: Negative race could have marred Peduto's future
  37. ↑ "The Heinz School-About the Heinz School". Carnegie Mellon. Archived from the original on June 11, 2007. Retrieved October 25, 2007. 
  38. ↑ For Pittsburgh mayor: Elect Mark DeSantis
  39. ↑ For mayor: Mark DeSantis is the choice for a new Pittsburgh
  40. ↑ City police endorse DeSantis for mayor
  41. ↑ Light at the end of the city's Dems?
  42. ↑ "SUMMARY REPORT Allegheny County 2007 Municipal Election Final Results". Retrieved November 7, 2007. 
  43. ↑ Ravenstahl cruises to 2 more years as Pittsburgh's mayor
  44. ↑ GOP spent big, got no change
  45. ↑ "Ravenstahl officially announces bid for re-election as mayor of Pittsburgh". WPXI. February 20, 2013. 
  46. ↑ "Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl won't seek re-election". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 1, 2013. 
  47. ↑ Laughlin, Nicholas (5 November 2013). "Peduto Coalition Wins Big in Pittsburgh". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 6 November 2013. 
  48. ↑ O'Toole, James (March 7, 2007). "Risks over arena great for public officials and franchise". Post Gazette. Retrieved May 16, 2008. 
  49. ↑ Smizik, Bob (March 7, 2007). "Political futures may hinge on arena deal". Post Gazette. Retrieved May 16, 2008. 
  50. ↑ "MAYOR RAVENSTAHL AND SUPERINTENDENT MARK ROOSEVELT ANNOUNCE HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP TO INVEST IN PITTSBURGH'S FUTURE". December 13, 2006. 
  51. ↑ "Pittsburgh mentors, money fuel education". USA Today. January 8, 2011. 
  52. ↑ "Pittsburgh Promise scholarship fund stable". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 12, 2011. 
  53. ↑ http://iheartpgh.com/2009/10/15/free-trees-city-of-pittsburgh-tree-giveaway/
  54. ↑ "Pittsburgh's annual tree giveaway to be held today". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 21, 2011. 
  55. ↑ Laneri, Raquel (September 2, 2009). "Pittsburgh? Yes, Pittsburgh". Forbes. 
  56. ↑ ttp://articles.philly.com/2009-09-23/news/24986941_1_summit-of-world-leaders-mayor-luke-ravenstahl-fort-pitt-tunnel
  57. ↑ O'Toole, James (March 14, 2008). "Onorato, Ravenstahl back Clinton". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 
  58. ↑ O'Toole, James; Anya Sostek (March 16, 2008). "Revelers greet Clinton with warm Pittsburgh reception". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 
  59. ↑ http://lukeformayor.com/page/shoreline
  60. ↑ http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/mayor/assets/G20_Press_Kit_Final.pdf
  61. ↑ "MAYOR OFFICIALLY REOPENS NEWLY RENOVATED MARKET SQUARE". October 26, 2010. 
  62. ↑ "MAYOR LAUNCHES CITY'S FIRST HIGH-IMPACT SERVICE PLAN, CALLS ON COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO SERVEPGH". March 22, 2011. 
  63. ↑ Rotstein, Gary (August 21, 2007). "Mayor Defends his Golf Outing". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 24, 2007. 
  64. ↑ Belko, Mark (December 17, 2007). "Mayor to council: Tax credits for UPMC for Pittsburgh Promise". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 17, 2007. 
  65. ↑ Lord, Rich (December 19, 2007). "City weighs UPMC trade-off". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 19, 2007. 
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 McNulty, Timothy; Lord, Rich (October 3, 2007). "Mayor defends use of SUV; U.S. attorney to review it". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 21, 2007. 
  67. ↑ Delano, John (October 4, 2007). "Sources: Officials Knew Mayor Shouldn't Use SUV". KDKA. Retrieved May 16, 2008. 
  68. ↑ Lord, Rich (April 10, 2008). "URA board calls for state ethics investigation on billboards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 10, 2008. 
  69. ↑ Lord, Rich (May 21, 2008). "Penguins signs held up by city billboard moratorium". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  70. ↑ Lord, Rich (May 22, 2008). "Penguins call off plan for banners; Ravenstahl wants to go to Detroit but awaits ethics ruling". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  71. ↑ "Huge Pittsburgh Pens Banners Axed; City E-Mails Show Background". WTAE. May 20, 2008. 
  72. ↑ http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/ravenstahl-controversial-police-accounts-had-hundreds-of-transactions-676002/
  73. ↑ http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/ravenstahls-bodyguards-had-credit-union-debit-cards-676346/
  74. ↑ Ford, Pat (August 27, 2008). "Text of Pat Ford's letter of resignation as URA executive director". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  75. ↑ "Pat Ford resigns from URA post". Pittsburgh Business Times. August 27, 2008. 
  76. ↑ Lord, Rich (August 27, 2008). "Urban Redevelopment boss Pat Ford Resigns". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  77. ↑ Lord, Rich (August 27, 2008). "Urban Redevelopment boss Pat Ford resigns". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 Boren, Jeremy (August 16, 2008). "URA bid went to highest of three finalists". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 
  79. ↑ Lord, Rich (August 28, 2008). "URA chief lambastes mayor upon resigning". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  80. ↑ Boren, Jeremy (August 28, 2008). "Exiting URA chief blasts mayor, corruption". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 
  81. ↑ Lord, Rich (August 30, 2008). "Mayor: Ford attacks others to help self". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  82. ↑ Lord, Rich (August 30, 2008). "Mayor: Ford attacks others to help self". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  83. ↑ Lord, Rich (September 8, 2008). "URA ignores its own rules in parking lot contracts". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  84. ↑ Houser, Mark (August 22, 2008). "Pittsburgh councilman urges URA contracts review". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 
  85. ↑ $1,010 trash cans littered with mayor's moniker, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, February 17, 2008
  86. ↑ Trash can controversy
  87. ↑ Sherman, Jerome L. (September 28, 2009). "Protesters blast police response, Oakland arrests". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  88. ↑ http://www.pittnews.com/node/20119
  89. ↑ http://kdka.com/local/g20/g20.press.conference.2.1212637.html
  90. ↑ http://www.g20media.org/node/232
  91. ↑ http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/21572178/detail.html
  92. ↑ 92.0 92.1 Schackner, Bill (November 10, 2009). "Students react: 'It shouldn't be our job to fix the city's deficit'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  93. ↑ http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3693&profileId=0
  94. ↑ "2007 Municipal Election Official Summary report". Allegheny County. November 26, 2007. 
  95. ↑ http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/politics/21505979/detail.html
  96. ↑ http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/elect/200911gen/el45_1247.htm

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Bob O'Connor		 Mayor of Pittsburgh
2006–2014 		Succeeded by
Bill Peduto
Pittsburgh City Council
Preceded by
Gene Ricciardi		 President of the Pittsburgh City Council
2005–2006 		Succeeded by
Doug Shields
Preceded by
Barbara Burns		 Member of the Pittsburgh City Council from the 1st District
2004–2006 		Succeeded by
Darlene Harris
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