Luke Robert Ravenstahl (born February 6, 1980,
Troy HillTroy Hill is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1 ....
,
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is a city in and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and the second largest city in the state. Its population was 334,563 at the 2000 census; by 2006, it was estimated to have fallen to 312,819. The population of the seven-county metropolitan area is...
) is the current Mayor of Pittsburgh. In September 2006, he became the youngest mayor in Pittsburgh's history at the age of 26. He is among the youngest mayors of a major city in American history.
A graduate of
North Catholic High SchoolNorth Catholic High School is a private Catholic high school located on Troy Hill on the Northside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school's mascot is the Trojan and its official colors are scarlet and gold....
, Ravenstahl attended
Mercyhurst CollegeMercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia...
and the
University of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
before graduating from
Washington & Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, in the city of Washington, Pennsylvania, USA...
. 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'ConnorRobert E. O'Connor, Jr. was the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from January 3, 2006, until his death.- Personal life and early career :...
, Ravenstahl became the acting mayor, per the city's charter, on September 1, 2006. Wording in the charter was ambiguous and it was unclear how long Ravenstahl could serve as acting mayor before an election was required.
Personal life
Ravenstahl's family has no history of involvement with politics. His father, Robert P. Ravenstahl Jr., is a
district magistrateA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice and deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
on the Northside, serving Wards 26 & 27, and head coach for the
North Catholic High SchoolNorth Catholic High School is a private Catholic high school located on Troy Hill on the Northside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school's mascot is the Trojan and its official colors are scarlet and gold....
football team. His grandfather, Robert P. Ravenstahl Sr., represented the
20th legislative districtThe 20th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Allegheny County and includes the following areas:* Pittsburgh ** Ward 02 [PART, Division 02]** Ward 06** Ward 09** Ward 10 [PART, Divisions 01, 02, 03, 06 and 13]** Ward 23...
as a
state representativeThe Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts. Elections are held in November of even numbered...
, was a Democratic ward leader in the
North SideNorth Side refers both to the region of Pittsburgh to the north of the Allegheny River and Ohio River and to a small neighborhood within that region. -History:...
, and was defeated in the 1976 democratic primary by a young
Tom MurphyTom Murphy is a Democratic politician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From January 1994 until January 2006 he served as mayor of Pittsburgh...
, who would go on to become mayor himself. Ravenstahl's mother was a crossing guard in the neighborhood of
ManchesterManchester is a neighborhood on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15233, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 6...
and is currently a teacher's aide with the
Allegheny Intermediate UnitThe Allegheny Intermediate Unit is a branch of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and is the largest of the 29 intermediate units in Pennsylvania...
. Ravenstahl is the eldest of three brothers. He became involved in Pittsburgh politics at an early age, by helping distribute literature for his father's campaign and becoming a Democratic committeeman at the age of 18.
Ravenstahl graduated from
North Catholic High SchoolNorth Catholic High School is a private Catholic high school located on Troy Hill on the Northside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school's mascot is the Trojan and its official colors are scarlet and gold....
in 1998, where he was class president and played baseball and football. He attended
Mercyhurst CollegeMercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia...
, where he played football, for one year before transferring to the
University of PittsburghThe University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, where he attempted to make the football team as a walk-on. He transferred to
Washington & Jefferson CollegeWashington & Jefferson College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, in the city of Washington, Pennsylvania, USA...
, where he graduated with honors with a degree in business administration in December 2002. He was W&J's starting place kicker for three years and was team captain for his senior year. He currently holds the school record for most consecutive extra points.
He worked summer jobs for the
post officeThe United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States. It is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution. Within the United States, it is commonly...
, the
University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterThe University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $8 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 50,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.3 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and international ventures...
, and the office of the Pittsburgh city controller. Following graduation from W&J, Ravenstahl worked as an account manager for a courier service.
In July 2004, he married Erin Lynn Feith, whom he began dating in high school. After high school, Erin attended the Pittsburgh Beauty Academy and now works at a beauty salon and spa. They now reside in the
Summer HillSummer Hill is a neighborhood on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15214, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1 .-Surrounding neighborhoods and communities:...
neighborhood of the
NorthsideNorth Side refers both to the region of Pittsburgh to the north of the Allegheny River and Ohio River and to a small neighborhood within that region. -History:...
. Ravenstahl is a Roman Catholic and attends mass weekly at Holy Wisdom Parish in the Northside.
Luke and Erin had their first baby, a boy, on October 31, 2008 shortly before 9:30 in the morning. Their son is named Cooper Luke Ravenstahl.
On May 19, 2007, Ravenstahl delivered the keynote address at
Washington & Jefferson College'sWashington & Jefferson College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, in the city of Washington, Pennsylvania, USA...
208th commencement celebration. He served as honorary co-captain with fellow W&J graduate
Roger GoodellRoger S. Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League , having been chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue on August 8, 2006. He was chosen over four finalists for the position, winning a close vote on the fifth ballot before being unanimously approved by acclamation of the...
during W&J's 2006 homecoming football game.
As a sign of support for the
Pittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' 2009 AFC Championship game against the
Baltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They compete in the AFC North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Ravenstahl ceremonially changed his name to "Luke Steelerstahl" on January 14, 2009. Court officials did not actually file the name change paperwork, and his legal name remains Ravenstahl.
Career on City Council
In April 2003, just four months after graduating from college, Ravenstahl ran for the Democratic nomination for the Pittsburgh City Council's District 1 seat against incumbent Barbara Burns. At the time, the 23-year old Ravenstahl was a Democratic committeeman in the 26th ward and had won the local party endorsement. Burns, who had several years experience working for the state government and neighborhood groups, was endorsed by Mayor Tom Murphy. Ravenstahl defeated Burns with 54.5% of the vote. 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. 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.
On December 7, 2005, Ravenstahl became the youngest President of the Pittsburgh City Council, when Gene Riccardi (who had been elected district justice) stepped down from that post in a move seen as paving the way for ally Jim Montznik. However, Montznik was unable to secure the votes needed to win the presidency, and Ravenstahl emerged as a compromise candidate. 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. 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'ConnorRobert E. O'Connor, Jr. was the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from January 3, 2006, until his death.- Personal life and early career :...
.
Interim Mayor of Pittsburgh
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.
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.
Ravenstahl instructed the city's legal department to quickly obtain a decision as to when the election should be held. 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.
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 ZoberYarone Zober, a Democrat, currently serves as chief of staff to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
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, ShadysideThe University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $8 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 50,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.3 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and international ventures...
, while O'Connor convalesced.
Media coverage of Ravenstahl has included a feature story in
The New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"—named for its staid appearance and style—is regarded as a national newspaper of record...
, and an appearance on
Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and bandleader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra,...
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.
Ravenstahl played an important role in helping other local officials, including
Allegheny County Chief ExecutiveAllegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,281,666. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
Dan OnoratoDaniel "Dan" Onorato is the current Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It was announced October 6, 2009 that he will be a candidate for governor in 2010. -Personal history:...
and Pennsylvania Governor
Ed RendellEdward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician and Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
negotiate with the
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
-led
Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League and are the defending Stanley Cup champions. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first...
ownership group to keep the team in Pittsburgh.
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. He also began replacing O'Connor's staffers with his own. He also continued O'Connor's "311" city help line proposal, as well as the "
Redd-UpPittsburgh English, popularly known as Pittsburghese, is the dialect of American English spoken by many residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and surrounding Western Pennsylvania.-Overview:...
" crews.
Controversy over 2005 arrest
In January 2007, radio and television talk show host John McIntire wrote in his Pittsburgh politics blog "MacYapper" that on Halloween night 2005 at
Heinz FieldHeinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
, then-City Councilman Ravenstahl shoved a Pittsburgh police officer and was led away in handcuffs but released shortly after. The blog speculated that O'Connor, who was not yet mayor, played a role in keeping the incident quiet. The rumors spread to other Pittsburgh politics blogs, forcing Ravenstahl to go public to dispel the rumors. Ravenstahl's response induced a large amount of mainstream media coverage of the incident.
During a radio interview with
KDKAKDKA is a radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that was the first commercially licensed radio station in the United States, a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations....
, Ravenstahl responded to the allegations by saying that McIntire had lied. McIntire said that the mayor's response further brought into question his maturity. Robert McNeilly, Pittsburgh's police chief when the incident occurred, publicly questioned how the case was handled, saying that the behavior of both Ravenstahl and Pittsburgh Police Officer Mark Hoehn should have been scrutinized more closely. "Admits to drinking with several of his friends. Becomes argumentative with a police officer. Using vulgarity towards a police officer. Led away in handcuffs", McNeilly said, "[H]ow many 25-year-old young men who have been drinking, who were just vulgar with the police and shouting at the police, would be un-handcuffed and released?" McNeilly said that both word of an unusual situation like this not traveling up the chain of command, as well as the lack of documentation, are out of the ordinary.
Lemieux Celebrity Invitational Golf incident
Ravenstahl also created controversy for his participation in the $9,000-a-head
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
Celebrity Invitational golf outing in June 2007. His participation was sponsored by the
University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterThe University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $8 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 50,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.3 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and international ventures...
and the
Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League and are the defending Stanley Cup champions. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first...
. Members of the Pittsburgh city ethics board cited concerns about the "perception" that he might owe something to those who subsidized his participation. 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. 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).
Questionable use of police vehicle
Over the weekend of August 18, 2007, Ravenstahl used a
Homeland SecurityHomeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect the United States against perceived internal and external threats. The term arose following a reorganization of many U.S. government agencies in 2003 to form the United States Department of Homeland Security after the September...
funded SUV to go to a
Toby KeithToby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
concert at the Post Gazette Pavilion. The Mayor's use of the
GMC YukonThe GMC Yukon refers to the basic platform used in both long and short versions of the truck chassis. Its main articles are here:*Chevrolet Tahoe *Chevrolet Suburban formerly GMC Suburban...
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." Sgt. Mona Wallace was reportedly intimidated for reporting the incident to Public Safety Director Michael Huss. Police Chief Nate Harper began disciplinary measures against Wallace, but the reprimand was rescinded by Huss.
Reaction to controversies
In a story by
The New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"—named for its staid appearance and style—is regarded as a national newspaper of record...
, Ravenstahl complained that he could no longer attend
Pittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
games.
"I just can't enjoy the game when I know I'm going to get hounded by the press the whole time", Ravenstahl said. In the same story, Ravenstahl discussed a number of controversies that have surrounded him in his time as mayor:
2007 Special election
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 PedutoWilliam Peduto, Democrat, was elected to Pittsburgh City Council, District 8, in November, 2001, and to a second four-year term in 2005.In the spring primary of 2005, Peduto ran for two positions. Besides running for re-election for his council seat, Peduto was a candidate for mayor...
, withdrew before the primary, refusing to engage in a negative campaign that many said would have been required to defeat Ravenstahl. His eventual Republican challenger, CEO and adjunct professor at
Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since its inception, Carnegie Mellon has grown into a world-renowned institution, with numerous programs that are frequently ranked among the best in the world...
Mark DeSantis did not appear on the Republican ballot, instead gaining the nomination through a write-in campaign.
DeSantis' candidacy garnered an unusual amount of interest in a city where no Republican had been elected mayor since the
Great DepressionThe Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He was endorsed by Pittsburgh's two major newspapers, including the conservative-leaning
Pittsburgh Tribune Review and the liberal-leaning
Pittsburgh Post Gazette. He was also endorsed by the city's police union and was profiled on Fox News.
Of the 28% of registered voters who voted in the
general electionThe Mayoral election of 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was a special election held on Tuesday, November 6, 2007. The incumbent mayor, Luke Ravenstahl of the Democratic Party faced Republican challenger Mark DeSantis, a businessman and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University...
, 63% chose Ravenstahl and 35% voted for DeSantis. Ravenstahl will continue as mayor of Pittsburgh until 2010, when the term of the late Bob O'Connor is finished.
2008 Democratic Presidential Primary in Pennsylvania
Ravenstahl and
Allegheny County Chief ExecutiveAllegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,281,666. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
Dan OnoratoDaniel "Dan" Onorato is the current Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It was announced October 6, 2009 that he will be a candidate for governor in 2010. -Personal history:...
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 RendellEdward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician and Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
and
Lt. GovernorThe Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. Upon the death of Democrat Catherine Baker Knoll, Republican State Senator Joseph B. Scarnati assumed the...
Catherine Baker KnollCatherine Baker Knoll was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. She was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, serving under Governor Ed Rendell from 2003 to 2008.-Background:...
, were seen as an indication of her strong support in
PennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
. Ravenstahl marched with Clinton the next day in
Pittsburgh'sPittsburgh is a city in and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and the second largest city in the state. Its population was 334,563 at the 2000 census; by 2006, it was estimated to have fallen to 312,819. The population of the seven-county metropolitan area is...
annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Baker Knoll made headlines with comments that she made at a rally with
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He was the third-youngest president; only Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy were younger when entering office...
in Market Square. Referring to Ravenstahl and Onorato, whom she felt had slighted her in the introductions,
"These two men can't stand women."
Banner-Gate
During the
2008 Stanley CupThe 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
playoff run of the
Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League and are the defending Stanley Cup champions. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first...
, the Penguins and
ReebokReebok International Limited, a subsidiary of German sportswear giant Adidas, is a producer of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
proposed putting up by 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. 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 ZoberYarone Zober, a Democrat, currently serves as chief of staff to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
, to confirm this. Zober worked with City Council, including Council President
Doug ShieldsDouglas A. Shields is the City Council President of Pittsburgh. He represents the 5th Council District of the city. Included in the 5th District are the neighborhoods of Glenn Hazel, Greenfield, Hays, New Homestead, Hazelwood, Lincoln Place, Point Breeze, Swisshelm Park, the southern half of...
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 DayVictoria Day , colloquially known as May Two-four, May Long, or May Run is a federal Canadian statutory holiday celebrated on the last Monday before or on 24 May, in honour of both Queen Victoria's birthday and the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday, and is also considered an...
in
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Reebok could not get the banners printed in time. Ravenstahl blamed the inability to get the signs printed on City Council. Councilman
Bill PedutoWilliam Peduto, Democrat, was elected to Pittsburgh City Council, District 8, in November, 2001, and to a second four-year term in 2005.In the spring primary of 2005, Peduto ran for two positions. Besides running for re-election for his council seat, Peduto was a candidate for mayor...
, a Penguins season ticket holder, went so far as to call this accusation a "bold faced lie". E-mails obtained by WTAE TV of Pittsburgh between City Bureaucrats, Councilmembers, the Penguins and the Mayor's office supported Peduto's claims.
2009 Democratic Primary
On May 19, 2009, Ravenstahl beat City Councilman Patrick Dowd and attorney Carmen Robinson to earn the Democratic nomination in the
Pittsburgh mayoral election, 2009-Primary:The primary election was held on May 19, 2009. Incumbent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl defeated challengers Patrick Dowd, a Pittsburgh city councilman, and Carmen Robinson, an attorney and former police officer.-General:...
.
Criticism
- In June 2007, Ravenstahl was criticized for using his status as mayor to talk his way into getting a picture with Tiger Woods at the US Open. However, Ravenstahl denied that he "crashed" the event.
- Between late October and early November 2007, it was originally released that a City of Pittsburgh computer department (City Information Systems) employee, rigged a KDKA radio (CBS) online poll in order to skew the ranking of the incumbent mayor. It has since been brought to light that there were numerous attacks against the CBS radio’s website. KDKA's own Marty Griffin uncovered the original story. The city's press secretary at the time (Alecia Sirk) was quoted as saying “He did it as a private citizen. He's well within his rights as a person.” However further investigation has led to the insight that the “rigging” (unwelcomed Denial of Service attacks) originated not from the employees personal computer, but rather from a city terminal. The United States District Attorney's office (Mary Beth Buchanan
Mary Beth Buchanan, born Mary Beth Kotcella, , is the United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She was nominated by George W. Bush on September 5, 2001, and confirmed by the United States Senate on September 14, 2001...
) has been working closely with KDKA radio's IT security personnel, in order to build a case. There have been no charges to date, however, the case has not gone cold, and the case is still being built, said Buchanan. The district attorney’s office has kept the specifics close to their chest; however they said they believe they have identified the employee in question. Further, it was also reported that said employee was working directly with a liaison of the Mayor's press office (assistant to the director of communication Joanna Doven). More so, the Mayor was fully aware of the illicit behavior.
- On August 27, 2008, suspended Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford resigned in a tersely worded letter to Ravenstahl and Chief of Staff Yarone Zober
Yarone Zober, a Democrat, currently serves as chief of staff to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
. The letter claims that the Ravenstahl administration is characterized by a “culture of deceptionDeception, beguilement, deceit, bluff, and subterfuge are acts to propagate a beliefs that are not true, or not the whole truth . Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda, sleight of hand. It can employ distraction, camouflage or concealment...
and corruptionPolitical corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
.” 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 contributionsFundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
have been made to the mayor, I think it's self-evident". 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".
In addition to the claims of corruption, Ford called Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's
"a failed administration" that forced him "to serve as a scapegoatThe scapegoat was a goat that was driven off into the wilderness as part of the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement, in Judaism during the times of the Temple in Jerusalem...
for the inappropriate affairs and activities of others". 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."
- 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. That contract, and other URA dealings, are currently under investigation by the City Controller.
- In 2006, two Liberty Pacific Media executives gave $12,500 each to the mayor's campaign fund after a dinner and drinks meeting with URA Director Pat Ford and Ravenstahl. Permit applications for an electronic billboard were granted without public hearings or votes despite the fact that the signs were erected in two areas—the Cultural District
The Cultural District is a fourteen-square block area in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA bordered by the Allegheny River on the north, Tenth Street on the east, Stanwix Street on the west, and Liberty Avenue on the south....
and the North ShoreThe North Shore is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's North Side. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by both the council members for District 1 and 6 . The neighborhood is home to Heinz Field and PNC Park, and is currently going through rapid...
—where they are not allowed under the city zoning code. Additionally, there was no competitive bid for the erection of this illegal billboard, instead the contract went to Liberty Pacific without any outside competition from other billboard firms.
- In February 2008, the Urban Redevelopment Authority,
"in consultation with board Chairman Yarone Zober, who is Ravenstahl's chief of staff", awarded multiple leases, without board approval, to the lowest bidder. The "winning" bid would cost the city $91,188. The owner of the company that won the bid, even though it had the worst offer, Robert Giglioti is known in government circles as the valet provider and some-time political liaison at LeMont restaurant, scene of high-dollar fund-raisers, including Ravenstahl's.
- In 2008 the Mayor vetoed a campaign finance reform
Campaign finance reform is the common term for the political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns....
bill that would have limited large campaign contributions.
- A December 8, 2008 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
stated, "Ravenstahl's two-month-old promise of immediate disclosure of the rationale for city contract awards has proved empty, with just two of 113 contract awards explained on the city's Web site."
- In January 2009, Ravenstahl denied that a club in the Strip District was given any special favors in light of allegations that the club was being used for impermissible sexual activities not within its building code. Questions arose after it was learned that the owners of the club donated money to the Mayor's 2007 campaign and held a fundraiser for him at their Mount Washington home.
- 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. Due to the upcoming Pittsburgh mayoral election
-Primary:The primary election was held on May 19, 2009. Incumbent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl defeated challengers Patrick Dowd, a Pittsburgh city councilman, and Carmen Robinson, an attorney and former police officer.-General:...
, many people have cited a conflict of interestA conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other.A conflict of interest can only existif a person or testimony...
since the new trash cans will have Ravenstahl's name on them while he is running for reelection.
Accomplishment
In one major accomplishment during his time as mayor before the 2009 election, Luke Ravenstahl hosted a giveaway for free trees generously supported by the Shady Tree Commission, Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, and Eilser’s Nursery.
Election history
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ Mayor of Pittsburgh
!|Year
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Socialist Workers
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Libertarian
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|
2007The Mayoral election of 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was a special election held on Tuesday, November 6, 2007. The incumbent mayor, Luke Ravenstahl of the Democratic Party faced Republican challenger Mark DeSantis, a businessman and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University...
|
| |Luke Ravenstahl
| align="right" |43,557
| |63.2
|
| |Mark DeSantis
| align="right" |24,025
| |34.9%
|
| |Ryan Scott
| align="right" |550
| |0.7%
|
| |Tony Olivia
| align="right" |504
| |0.7%
|
External links