Luke Ravenstahl
Encyclopedia
Luke Robert Ravenstahl (born February 6, 1980) 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 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
.
Ravenstahl's father, Robert P. Ravenstahl Jr., is a district magistrate
on the Northside, 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. 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. 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. Following graduation from W&J, Ravenstahl worked as an account manager for a courier service.
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.
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. He served as honorary co-captain with fellow W&J graduate Roger Goodell
during W&J's 2006 homecoming football game.
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. Court officials did not actually file the name change paperwork, and his legal name remains Ravenstahl.
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." On November 24, the mayor announced that he and his wife were "formally separating," but had no plans to officially file for divorce. On March 11, 2011, Erin Ravenstahl filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in late July 2011.
. 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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-Up
" crews.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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 and the liberal-leaning Pittsburgh Post Gazette. He was also endorsed by the city's police union and was profiled on Fox News.
Ravenstahl defeated DeSantis 63% to 35%.
Ravenstahl created the tree give away in support of TreeVitalize's goal of planting 20,000 trees by the year 2012.
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
. Ravenstahl marched with Clinton the next day in Pittsburgh's
annual St. Patrick's Day Parade
. In the general election, he defeated his two independent competitors to earn a full term as mayor.
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.
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:
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. 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).
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." 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.
playoff run of the Pittsburgh Penguins
, the Penguins and Reebok
proposed putting up 40 feet (12.2 m) by 85 feet (25.9 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. 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. Councilman Bill Peduto
, 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.
A graduate of North Catholic High School
North Catholic High School
North 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 the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The 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 College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
. 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
Pittsburgh mayoral election, 2009
Pittsburgh held a mayoral election on November 3, 2009. Incumbent mayor Luke Ravenstahl, a Democrat, defeated his two independent challengers by a wide margin...
.
Personal life
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
on the Northside, and head coach for the North Catholic High School
North Catholic High School
North 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.
Robert Ravenstahl
Robert P. Ravenstahl is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.His grandson, Luke Ravenstahl, is the current Mayor of Pittsburgh.-References:...
, represented the 20th legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 20
The 20th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is located in Allegheny County and includes the following areas:* Pittsburgh** Ward 2 ** Ward 6** Ward 9** Ward 10 ** Ward 23** Ward 24...
as a state representative
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The 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....
, was a Democratic ward leader in the North Side
Northside (Pittsburgh)
North Side refers to the region of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, located to the north of the Allegheny River and the Ohio River...
, and was defeated in the 1976 Democratic primary by a young Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy (mayor)
Thomas J. "Tom" Murphy, Jr. 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 is currently a teacher's aide with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
The 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 including Adam Ravenstahl
Adam Ravenstahl
Adam Ravenstahl is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 20th District which includes the North Side, Strip District, Polish Hill, Stanton Heights, and Lawrenceville neighborhoods of the city of Pittsburgh, as well as parts of the suburbs of Reserve Township, Ross...
, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The 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....
.
Ravenstahl graduated from North Catholic High School
North Catholic High School
North 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 Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
, 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. Following graduation from W&J, Ravenstahl worked as an account manager for a courier service.
In August 2004, he married Erin Lynn Feith, whom he had begun dating in high school. They resided in the Summer Hill
Summer Hill (Pittsburgh)
Summer 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 ....
neighborhood of the Northside
Northside (Pittsburgh)
North Side refers to the region of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, located to the north of the Allegheny River and the Ohio River...
. Ravenstahl is a Roman Catholic and attends mass weekly at Holy Wisdom Parish on the Northside.
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
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
208th commencement celebration. He served as honorary co-captain with fellow W&J graduate Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell
Roger 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 Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
' 2009 AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, 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.
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." On November 24, the mayor announced that he and his wife were "formally separating," but had no plans to officially file for divorce. On March 11, 2011, Erin Ravenstahl filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in late July 2011.
City Council
In April 2003, Ravenstahl ran for the Democratic nomination for the Pittsburgh City Council's District 1 seat against incumbent Barbara BurnsBarbara Burns
Barbara A. Burns is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.-Political career:Burn was first elected to the State House on March 7, 1994 to fill the vacancy left by Thomas Murphy's election as Mayor of Pittsburgh She was defeated for re-election in the primary by Don...
. 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.
City Council President
On December 7, 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. However, Motznik 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'Connor.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 Zober
Yarone Zober
Yarone 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, Shadyside
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $9 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 54,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 4,200 licensed beds, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.5 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and...
, while O'Connor convalesced.
Media coverage of Ravenstahl has included a feature story in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, and an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. 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 band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
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 Executive
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
Dan Onorato
Dan Onorato
Daniel "Dan" Onorato is the current Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Onorato won a crowded four-way primary to become the Democratic nominee for governor...
and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th 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 Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
-led Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The 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 . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
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-Up
Pittsburgh English
Pittsburgh English, popularly known by outsiders as Pittsburghese, is the dialect of American English spoken by many especially older residents of Pittsburgh and parts of surrounding Western Pennsylvania in the United States, a group referred to by locals and others as Yinzers.-Overview:Many of the...
" crews.
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.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. 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.
2007 Special election
Bill Peduto
William 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. His eventual Republican challenger, CEO and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
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 Depression
Great Depression
The 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.
Ravenstahl defeated DeSantis 63% to 35%.
Tree give-away
Every year, Ravenstahl hosts a giveaway of free trees supported by the Shady Tree Commission, Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest, and Eilser’s Nursery.Ravenstahl created the tree give away in support of TreeVitalize's goal of planting 20,000 trees by the year 2012.
G20 Comes to Pittsburgh
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". 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."2008 Democratic Presidential Primary in Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
Dan Onorato
Dan Onorato
Daniel "Dan" Onorato is the current Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Onorato won a crowded four-way primary to become the Democratic nominee for governor...
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
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th 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. Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor...
Catherine Baker Knoll
Catherine Baker Knoll
Catherine 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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Ravenstahl marched with Clinton the next day in Pittsburgh's
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
annual St. Patrick's Day Parade
2009 Election
On May 19, 2009, Ravenstahl beat City Councilman Patrick Dowd and attorney Carmen Robinson to earn the Democratic nomination in the 2009 electionPittsburgh mayoral election, 2009
Pittsburgh held a mayoral election on November 3, 2009. Incumbent mayor Luke Ravenstahl, a Democrat, defeated his two independent challengers by a wide margin...
. In the general election, he defeated his two independent competitors to earn a full term as mayor.
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.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.
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.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. 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
Lemieux Celebrity Invitational Golf incident
Ravenstahl also created controversy for his participation in the $9,000-a-head Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
Celebrity Invitational golf outing in June 2007. His participation was sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $9 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 54,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 4,200 licensed beds, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.5 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and...
and the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The 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 . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. 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
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
funded SUV to go to a Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby 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 Yukon
Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe are full-size SUVs from General Motors. Chevrolet and GMC sold two different-sized SUVs under their Blazer/Jimmy model names through the early 1990s. This situation changed when GMC rebadged the full-size Jimmy as the Yukon in 1992...
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.
Banner-Gate
During the 2008 Stanley Cup2008 Stanley Cup Finals
The 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 Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The 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 . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, the Penguins and Reebok
Reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
proposed putting up 40 feet (12.2 m) by 85 feet (25.9 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. 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
Yarone Zober
Yarone 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 Shields
Doug Shields
Douglas A. Shields represents the 5th Council District in the City of Pittsburgh. He has served on Pittsburgh City Council since January 2004, also serving as Pittsburgh City Council President from 2008 to 2010...
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
Victoria Day
Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday. The date is also, simultaneously, that on which the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday is recognized...
in Canada, Reebok could not get the banners printed in time. Ravenstahl blamed the inability to get the signs printed on City Council. Councilman Bill Peduto
Bill Peduto
William 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.
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 ZoberYarone ZoberYarone 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 deceptionDeceptionDeception, beguilement, deceit, bluff, mystification, bad faith, and subterfuge are acts to propagate beliefs that are not true, or not the whole truth . Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda, and sleight of hand. It can employ distraction, camouflage or concealment...
and corruption.” 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 contributionsFundraisingFundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary 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 Ravenstahl's "a failed administration" that forced him "to serve as a scapegoatScapegoatScapegoating is the practice of singling out any party for unmerited negative treatment or blame. Scapegoating may be conducted by individuals against individuals , individuals against groups , groups against individuals , and groups against groups Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any...
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 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 electionPittsburgh mayoral election, 2009Pittsburgh held a mayoral election on November 3, 2009. Incumbent mayor Luke Ravenstahl, a Democrat, defeated his two independent challengers by a wide margin...
, many people have cited a conflict of interestConflict 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....
since the new trash cans will have Ravenstahl's name on them while he is running for reelection.
- On September 25 and September 26, 2009, the city of Pittsburgh hosted the G20 Summit2009 G-20 Pittsburgh summitThe 2009 G-20 Pittsburgh Summit was the third meeting of the G-20 heads of state in discussion of financial markets and the world economy.The G-20 is the premier forum for discussing, planning and monitoring international economiccooperation....
. During the event, over 190 people were arrested, many of whom were students. The American Civil Liberties Union is handling cases on behalf of many people arrested during the G20 protests, citing incidents of illegal searches, seizures, harassment, and unlawful arrests. As a result of what many felt was an excessive police presence in response to protesters, many blamed Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan OnoratoDan OnoratoDaniel "Dan" Onorato is the current Chief Executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Onorato won a crowded four-way primary to become the Democratic nominee for governor...
, who were in charge of preparing for the G-20 event. - On November 10, 2009, Ravenstahl introduced the proposed budget to the City Council, which included a 1% "privilege" tax on student tuition. Students attending the Community College of Allegheny CountyCommunity College of Allegheny CountyCommunity College of Allegheny County, or CCAC as it is officially abbreviated, is a community college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With four campuses and six centers, the college offers associate's degrees, certificate and diploma programs....
, which has an annual tuition of $2,700, would be required under the proposed plan to pay a tax of $27 while students attending the University of PittsburghUniversity 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...
, which has an annual in-state tuition cost of $13,500, would have to pay $135. Students attending Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, which has an annual tuition rate of over $40,000, would be required to pay $400 a year despite the fact that only 20% of CMU students are in-state students and thus permanent residents of the state of Pennsylvania. Students have been critical of the proposed tax, arguing that it unfairly burdens students who attend universities with higher tuition rates. Also included in the tax were the downtown universities of Carlow UniversityCarlow UniversityCarlow University is a Roman Catholic university founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, on September 24, 1929, by the Sisters of Mercy from Carlow, Ireland. Originally called Mount Mercy College, the name was changed to Carlow College in April 1969. In 2004, Carlow College achieved university...
, Duquesne UniversityDuquesne UniversityDuquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
, Chatham University, and Point Park UniversityPoint Park UniversityPoint Park University is a liberal arts university located in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Point Park College, the school name was revised in 2004 to reflect the number of graduate programs being offered....
. Along with the trade schools such as Pittsburgh Technical InstitutePittsburgh Technical InstitutePittsburgh Technical Institute is a private two-year post-secondary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA offering associate degrees and short-term certificate programs....
and Kaplan, Inc.Kaplan, Inc.Kaplan, Inc. is a for-profit corporation headquartered in New York City and was founded in 1938 by Stanley Kaplan. Kaplan provides higher education programs, professional training courses, test preparation materials and other services for various levels of education...
and theological seminaries that included Pittsburgh Theological SeminaryPittsburgh Theological SeminaryPittsburgh Theological Seminary, founded in 1794, is a graduate theological institution associated with the Presbyterian Church USA. It is located in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and houses one of the largest theological libraries in the nation...
and Reformed Presbyterian Theological SeminaryReformed Presbyterian Theological SeminaryThe Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary located in Point Breeze, Pennsylvania, United States. RPTS is a ministry of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America and was founded in 1810, making it the fifth oldest seminary in the United States.-Mission and Emphasis:RPTS's...
. Arts and culinary schools of downtown Pittsburgh were also targeted for the tax which included Art Institute of PittsburghArt Institute of PittsburghThe Art Institute of Pittsburgh is a private, for-profit, higher education institute located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that emphasizes design education and career preparation for the creative job market. It was founded in 1921.-History:...
, Pennsylvania Culinary InstitutePennsylvania Culinary InstituteLe Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was founded in 1986. The institute offers a variety of specialized culinary degrees.- History :...
, and Pittsburgh Filmmakers' School of Film, Photography, and Digital MediaPittsburgh Filmmakers' School of Film, Photography, and Digital MediaPittsburgh Filmmakers' School of Film, Photography, and Digital Media is a private institution of higher education located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
.
Electoral history
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | Socialist Workers | Votes | Pct | Libertarian | Votes | Pct | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Pittsburgh mayoral special election, 2007 The 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 telecommunications executive and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University... |
Luke Ravenstahl | 43,557 | 63.2 | Mark DeSantis | 24,025 | 34.9% | Ryan Scott | 550 | 0.7% | Tony Olivia | 504 | 0.7% |
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Independent | Votes | Pct | Independent | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Pittsburgh mayoral election, 2009 Pittsburgh held a mayoral election on November 3, 2009. Incumbent mayor Luke Ravenstahl, a Democrat, defeated his two independent challengers by a wide margin... |
Luke Ravenstahl | 28,528 | 55.22% | Franco "Doc" Harris | 13,060 | 25.28% | Kevin Acklin | 9,903 | 19.17% |
See also
- City of Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh Public SchoolsPittsburgh Public SchoolsPittsburgh Public Schools is the public school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA and adjacent Mount Oliver.The combined land area of these municipalities is with a population of 342,503 according to the 2000 census. In August 2005, the superintendent became Mark Roosevelt. His tenure ends...
- List of the youngest mayors in the United States
- Youth politicsYouth politicsYouth politics is a category of issues which distinctly involve, affect or otherwise impact youth.-USA:With roots in the early youth activism of the Newsboys and Mother Jones' child labor protests at the turn of the 20th century, youth politics were first identified in American politics with the...
External links
- Mayor Luke Ravenstahl official Pittsburgh city website
- Baby-Faced Mayor Takes Over an Aging Pittsburgh, The New York Times article, September 9, 2006
- Luke For Mayor, Ravenstahl's reelection site
- CityMayors profile