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Luke Ravenstahl

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Luke Ravenstahl
58th Mayor of Pittsburgh
Assumed office
September 1, 2006
Preceded byBob O'Connor
Personal details
BornLuke Ravenstahl
(1980-02-06) February 6, 1980 (age 44)
Troy Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
DiedLuke Ravenstahl
Resting placeLuke Ravenstahl
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseErin Lynn Feith
Parent
  • Luke Ravenstahl
Alma materWashington & Jefferson College

Luke Ravenstahl (b. February 6 1980, Troy Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is the current Mayor of Pittsburgh. In September 2006, he became the youngest mayor in Pittsburgh's history at the age of 26.[1] He is also the youngest mayor of any major city in American history.[2]

Biography

Luke Ravenstahl graduated from North Catholic High School in 1998 and Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) in December 2002. Prior to W&J, Ravenstahl attended Mercyhurst College for one year and then transferred to the University of Pittsburgh. Ravenstahl played baseball and football in high school, played football at Mercyhurst, and was the kicker for the W&J football team. Following graduation from W&J, Ravenstahl worked as an account manager for a courier service.[3]

Family Background

Ravenstahl's family has a history of involvement with politics. His father is a district judge, and his grandfather was a state representative.[4] At age 23, just four months after graduating from college, Ravenstahl ran for the District 1 seat on the Pittsburgh City Council in the April 2003 primary and defeated incumbent Barbara Burns.

2003 - 2006

He ran unopposed for the city council in the November 2003 general election.[5] Ravenstahl assumed his seat on council in January 2004, and in December 2005, was elected City Council President, a role he held until he became mayor. Ravenstahl, per provisions in the city's charter, ascended from the office of City Council President to Mayor on September 1 2006 following the death of Mayor Bob O'Connor.

Due to ambiguous language in the city's charter, a controversy developed about how long Ravenstahl could temporarily serve as mayor before an election had to be held. Ravenstahl stated his desire to fulfill the remainder of O'Connor's term.[6][7][8]

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.[9]

Ravenstahl instructed the city's legal department to quickly obtain a decision as to when the election should be held.[10] 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. The winner of the general election will take office after the election results are certified, and the term will end in January 2010.[11]

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.[This quote needs a citation]

Controversies

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 Field, 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.[12] Ravenstahl's response induced a large amount of mainstream media coverage of the incident.

During a radio interview with KDKA, Ravenstahl responded to the allegations by saying that McIntire had lied. McIntire responded by saying that the mayor's response further brought into question his maturity.[13]

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.[14]

Ravenstahl also created controversy for his participation in the $9,000-a-head Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational golf outing in June 2007. His participation was sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Members of the Pittsburgh city ethics board cited concerns about the "perception" that he might owe something to those who subsidized his participation. [15] Republican mayoral candidate Mark DeSantis has challenged Ravenstahl to sign an 'ethics pledge' in response to this incident.

Over the weekend of August 18 2007 Ravenstahl used a Homeland Security funded SUV to go to a Toby Keith concert at the Post Gazette Pavilion. The Mayor's use of the GMC Yukon to travel to the concert may have violated the terms of the grant that funded the purchase of the vehicle. Responding to the allegations of impropriety, Ravenstahl said "I'm still going to continue to be who I'm going to be, and go to concerts like I always have, and go to have a drink with my wife in bars. That's what 27-year-olds do and I shouldn't be any different ... [I]'m not going to change my life to appease the media or appease somebody who wants me to be somebody I'm not. I think the fact that I'm 27 is something the city should embrace and it's something that I've embraced."[16]

Sgt. Mona Wallace was reportedly intimidated for reporting the incident to Public Safety Director Michael Huss. [citation needed] Police Chief Nate Harper began disciplinary measures against her, but the reprimand was rescinded by Huss.[17]

In a story by the New York Times, Ravenstahl complained that he could no longer attend Pittsburgh Steelers games. "I just can’t enjoy the game when I know I’m going to get hounded by the press the whole time", Mr. Ravenstahl said. [18]

In the same story, Ravenstahl discussed a number of controversies that he has been involved in as mayor: "'Let’s see, first, in January, there was ‘Heinz-gate’”, Mr. Ravenstahl said, referring to accusations that he was arrested while drunk at a football game at Heinz Field three years ago. “Then in March it was ‘New York-gate’”, where he was lambasted for having flown to New York on a trip paid for by Ron Burkle, a billionaire and political fund-raiser. In April, there was “Tiger-gate”, when Mr. Ravenstahl was mocked for trying to get a photo opportunity with Tiger Woods. “What did I miss?” Ravenstahl said, looking to his press secretary, who sheepishly reminded him. “Boston-gate” was last week, where Mr. Ravenstahl was faulted for being in Boston instead of attending a community meeting on the design of a new casino. This week it was “S.U.V.-gate”, as the front pages of local newspapers criticized Mr. Ravenstahl for using a vehicle paid for with Department of Homeland Security money to take his wife to a country-western concert." [19]

2007 Election

Main article: Pittsburgh mayoral special election, 2007

Ravenstahl won the Democratic nomination for the special mayoral election and was challenged by Republican nominee, CEO and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University,[20] Mark DeSantis.

Ravenstahl won the election with 63.19%[21] and will continue as mayor of Pittsburgh until 2010, when the term of the late Bob O'Connor is finished.

Election history

2007, Mayor of Pittsburgh, Democratic Party, Primary Election[22]

Luke Ravenstahl 96%
Write-in 4%

2007, Mayor of Pittsburgh, General Election[23]

Luke Ravenstahl (D) 63%
Mark F. Desantis (R) 35%
Tony Oliva (L) 1%
Ryan Scott (SWP) 1%
Write-in 0%

Personal

Luke Ravenstahl married Erin Lynn Feith in July 2004. They reside in the Northside district of Pittsburgh, in the Summer Hill neighborhood. Ravenstahl is a Roman Catholic and attends mass weekly at Holy Wisdom Parish in the Northside.[24] They are expecting their first child in the fall of 2008.

On March 14th, 2008, after much speculation, Ravenstahl announced that he will be endorsing Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for president.

References

  1. ^ Roddy, Dennis B. (2006-09-01). "Ravenstahl sworn in as Pittsburgh mayor". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Highfield, David (2006-09-04). "Ravenstahl Among Youngest Mayors Ever". KDKA-TV. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Lord, Rich (2006-09-02). "New mayor Luke Ravenstahl confident he is ready to lead city". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Roddy, Dennis (2006-09-03-). "Ravenstahl's political roots go deep on the city's North Side". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. PG Publishing Co., Inc. Retrieved 2007-01-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ McGuinness, Scott (Winter 2003). "Star athlete wins in political arena too" (PDF). W&J. Washington & Jefferson College. pp. p. 10. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  6. ^ Bucsko, Mike (2006-09-04). "Doubts surround how long Ravenstahl can be mayor". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Lord, Rich (2006-09-02). "City of Pittsburgh charter vague on length of term for mayor's successor". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Lord, Rich (2006-09-06). "Former top city lawyer opposes succession opinion". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter
  10. ^ Lord, Rich (2006-09-09). "Mayor Ravenstahl changes key posts, targets budget". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Rotstein, Gary (2006-10-13). "Ravenstahl must run next year". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Blogging Causes Ravenstahl Incident To Hit High Water". WTAE-TV. 2007-01-18. Retrieved 2007-01-24.
  13. ^ "Blog Brought Ravenstahl Story To Light". KDKA-TV. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2007-01-24.
  14. ^ "Former Police Chief Speaks Up About Ravenstahl Incident". WTAE-TV. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2007-01-24.
  15. ^ "Mayor Defends his Golf Outing". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
  16. ^ "Mayor defends use of SUV; U.S. attorney to review it". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
  17. ^ "Mayor defends use of SUV; U.S. attorney to review it". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
  18. ^ "In Media's Eye, Young Mayor Says He's Learning". New York Times. 2007-10-03. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  19. ^ In Media’s Eye, Young Mayor Says He’s Learning - New York Times
  20. ^ "The Heinz School - About the Heinz School". Carnegie Mellon. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  21. ^ "SUMMARY REPORT Allegheny County 2007 Municipal Election Final Results". Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  22. ^ "2007 Municipal Election Official Summary report". Alleghany County. 2007-06-05.
  23. ^ "2007 Municipal Election Official Summary report". Alleghany County. 2007-11-26.
  24. ^ About the Mayor
Template:Incumbent succession box
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