The two independents in the Pittsburgh mayoral race took their final swings at Mayor Luke Ravenstahl yesterday, repeating the complaints about political influence, neighborhood priorities and crime that have defined their bids to unseat the three-year incumbent.

Squirrel Hill attorney Kevin Acklin and Shadyside businessman Franco Dok Harris face long odds Tuesday, as they try to unseat an incumbent Pittsburgh mayor for the first time since 1933. In the third and final debate of the fall, they turned over little new ground on Mr. Ravenstahl, though he was forced to address his handling of the G-20 summit, police staffing levels and mistakes he has made in office.

On one hand, the debate allowed Mr. Ravenstahl to underline the city’s accomplishments since he took over in September 2006, such as easing away from near-bankruptcy, seeing a 40 percent drop in homicides this year, and having a lower jobless rate than the state or national averages. A full four-year term would let him tackle the city’s ailing pension fund and try to fill a $15 million gap in the city’s operating budget, he said.

“There are good things happening, Pittsburgh, but our journey is not yet complete,” Mr. Ravenstahl said.

Read the full Post-Gazette article here

Tags: Ravenstahl

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