Luke Ravenstahl

Luke Ravenstahl
Born	Luke Robert Ravenstahl (1980-02-06) February 6, 1980 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Politician
Years active	2004–2014
Known for	59th Mayor of Pittsburgh

Luke Robert Ravenstahl (born February 6, 1980) is an American political figure who held the position of the 59th Mayor of Pittsburgh from 2006 until 2014. As a member of the Democratic Party, he became Pittsburgh's youngest mayor at 26 years old in September 2006, ranking among the youngest leaders of a major U.S. city.

Ravenstahl completed his education at North Catholic High School and Washington & Jefferson College. At 23, he was elected to the Pittsburgh City Council and took office in January 2004. By December 2005, he had advanced to City Council President. Following the passing of Mayor Bob O'Connor, Ravenstahl stepped into the mayoral role on September 1, 2006, as stipulated by the city charter. He secured victory in a special mayoral election in 2007 and was re-elected in the regular election of 2009. Choosing not to run for another term in 2013, he was succeeded by Democrat Bill Peduto in January 2014.

Personal life

Robert P. Ravenstahl Jr., Luke's father, serves as a district magistrate and coaches the football team at North Catholic High School. His grandfather, Robert P. Ravenstahl Sr., was a state legislator and Democratic ward leader on Pittsburgh's North Side. Luke is the oldest among three siblings, including Adam Ravenstahl, who formerly represented Pennsylvania in the state legislature.

Graduating from North Catholic High School in 1998, he held the position of class president and participated in both baseball and football. He earned a business administration degree with honors from Washington & Jefferson College in 2002, where he was both starting place kicker and team captain. Following graduation, he worked as an account manager for a courier company.

In August 2004, Ravenstahl married Erin Lynn Feith; they resided in Pittsburgh’s Summer Hill neighborhood. A practicing Roman Catholic, he attends weekly services at Holy Wisdom Parish. Their son, Cooper Luke Ravenstahl, was born in October 2008.

Ravenstahl was invited to deliver the keynote speech at Washington & Jefferson College’s 208th commencement ceremony in 2007 and acted as honorary co-captain for the college’s homecoming football game in 2006.

As a gesture supporting the Pittsburgh Steelers’ appearance in the 2008 AFC Championship game, he temporarily changed his name to "Luke Steelerstahl" on January 14, 2009.

On November 23, 2009, Ravenstahl revealed that he and his wife had separated due to her unease with public life; although they formally separated, they initially did not pursue divorce proceedings. Erin Ravenstahl filed for divorce in March 2011 citing irreconcilable differences; their divorce was finalized by July of that year.

In 2012, Ravenstahl appeared briefly in The Dark Knight Rises, portraying a member of the fictional Rapid City Monuments football team.

City Council

In April 2003, Ravenstahl secured the Democratic nomination for Pittsburgh City Council District 1 by defeating incumbent Barbara Burns with 54.5% of votes cast. He credited his success to grassroots efforts, a targeted voter registration campaign aimed at individuals aged 18 to 25, and widespread dissatisfaction with then-Mayor Murphy. Sworn into office as Pittsburgh’s youngest City Council member in January 2004, one of his early initiatives—a proposal to reduce the parking tax rate from 50% to 33%—was vetoed by Mayor Tom Murphy, who opposed balancing the budget through a $3 million allocation from the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

City Council President

On December 6, 2005, Ravenstahl assumed the role of Pittsburgh City Council President, becoming the youngest individual to hold the position after Gene Ricciardi stepped down. Although Ricciardi’s departure was anticipated to favor his ally Jim Motznik, Motznik did not obtain sufficient votes, leading to Ravenstahl’s selection as a compromise candidate. He was unanimously reaffirmed in this role during the council’s reorganization in January 2006. Among his initial responsibilities was overseeing two state budget supervisory boards. According to the city charter, Ravenstahl advanced from City Council President to Mayor on September 1, 2006, following the passing of Mayor Bob O'Connor.

Accession to Mayor

In compliance with the city charter, Ravenstahl transitioned from City Council President to Mayor on September 1, 2006, after Mayor Bob O'Connor died. The charter’s ambiguous language generated debate about how long Ravenstahl could remain in office before a new election was mandated. Ravenstahl declared his intention to fulfill O'Connor’s remaining term.

The charter requires that a mayoral vacancy be filled at the next legally permissible election but does not clearly specify whether this means serving out the entire term. It states only that the "vacancy in the mayor's office shall be filled at the next election permitted by law," without defining what constitutes "permitted by law."

To resolve this uncertainty, Ravenstahl instructed the city’s legal department to seek guidance on election scheduling. On October 12, 2006, the Allegheny County Board of Elections decided that mayoral candidates would contest a primary on May 15, 2007, followed by a general election on November 6, 2007. The victor would assume office immediately upon certification and serve until January 2010.

Ravenstahl’s first official measure was ordering city flags lowered to half staff and declaring a period of mourning. He and Deputy Mayor Yarone Zober had been jointly managing city affairs since O'Connor was diagnosed with illness in July 2006.

Media outlets featured Ravenstahl prominently, including coverage in The New York Times and an appearance on Late Show with David Letterman on September 14, 2006. Despite initial concerns about taking office so soon after O'Connor’s death, Ravenstahl received encouragement from O'Connor’s widow to act as a "cheerleader" for Pittsburgh.

While initially continuing O’Connor’s policy direction, Ravenstahl soon introduced his own priorities: incentives for downtown residential development, scholarship programs for local high school graduates pursuing college, and enhancing diversity within municipal government. He also replaced several members of O’Connor’s team but maintained initiatives such as the "311" assistance hotline and the "Redd-Up" neighborhood cleanup efforts.

2007 Special election

Ravenstahl faced no opposition in the Democratic primary held on May 17, 2007, aimed at completing Bob O'Connor's term after his main rival, City Council member Bill Peduto, withdrew from the race. The Republican nominee was CEO and adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University Mark DeSantis, who secured his party's nomination through a write-in campaign.

DeSantis’ candidacy drew notable attention in Pittsburgh—a city that had not elected a Republican mayor since the Great Depression. He earned endorsements from both of Pittsburgh’s leading newspapers—the conservative-leaning Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and the more liberal Pittsburgh Post-Gazette—alongside support from the city police union and coverage on Fox News.

In the general election, Ravenstahl prevailed with 63% of the vote compared to DeSantis’ 35%, ensuring continued Democratic leadership despite significant Republican efforts.

2009 Election

On May 19, 2009, Ravenstahl won the Democratic nomination for the 2009 election, overcoming City Councilman Patrick Dowd and attorney Carmen Robinson. He proceeded to secure a full mayoral term by defeating two independent challengers in the general election.

2013 Election

Ravenstahl declared his intention to seek re-election as Pittsburgh Mayor on February 19, 2013, but withdrew from the race just 11 days later, citing personal matters. His exit came amid controversy related to police credit union accounts. Subsequently, Democrat Bill Peduto was elected mayor.

Initiatives and events

Ravenstahl played a key role in working alongside regional leaders such as Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell to negotiate with the Mario Lemieux-led ownership group of the Pittsburgh Penguins, ensuring the franchise remained in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Promise

On December 13, 2006, Mayor Ravenstahl introduced The Pittsburgh Promise, a collaborative effort between the City of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Public Schools designed to offer college scholarships to all public school students regardless of their financial background. This program also functioned as an economic development tool for the city.

By September 2011, the scholarship fund had reached $12.5 million, providing students up to $40,000 over two years contingent on maintaining at least a 90% attendance rate and a minimum GPA of 2.5. Beyond facilitating access to higher education, The Pittsburgh Promise aimed to combat declining public school enrollment and population loss; by 2009, kindergarten enrollment had increased and overall public school enrollment declines had decelerated.

Tree give-away

Each year, Ravenstahl organized a complimentary tree distribution event supported by the Shade Tree Commission, Tree Pittsburgh (previously Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest), and Eisler Nurseries. This initiative complemented TreeVitalize’s objective of planting 20,000 trees by 2012, reflecting a strategic focus on enhancing urban environmental quality.

G20 Comes to Pittsburgh

In 2009, Pittsburgh was chosen as the host city for the G20 Summit, underscoring its economic and technological evolution following the decline of the steel industry. The city’s emphasis on environmental innovation and collaboration across sectors positioned it as a model for emerging industries. Mayor Ravenstahl highlighted the summit as an opportunity to present Pittsburgh’s successful revitalization and new business prospects on an international platform.

2008 Democratic Presidential Primary in Pennsylvania

In March 2008, Ravenstahl joined Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato in endorsing Senator Hillary Clinton at a rally backed by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll. This alliance demonstrated strong political support for Clinton within Pennsylvania. Additionally, Ravenstahl showed his backing by marching with Clinton during Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade the following day.

Pittsburgh's Third Renaissance

Mayor Ravenstahl unveiled an 11-point strategy aimed at propelling Pittsburgh's Third Renaissance. This plan emphasized controlling the city's long-term expenditures, advancing the healthcare and education industries, utilizing cutting-edge technology, finalizing riverfront projects, improving public schooling, linking employment opportunities with residents, increasing governmental openness, ensuring neighborhood safety and cleanliness, promoting urban greenery, and fostering diversity.

Major redevelopment efforts encompassed initiatives such as Redd Up Zones, the North Shore Connector, Allegheny Riverfront Vision, Three PNC Plaza, the August Wilson Center, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, and brownfield revitalization including South Side Works and Washington's Landing. Complementary support programs like ServePgh, Green Up, Taking Care of Business, Love Your Block, and the Civic Leadership Academy played integral roles in this endeavor. Fiscal efficiency was enhanced through joint bulk purchasing agreements with the County and consolidating the Housing Authority with the Police Department.

Market Square revitalization

On October 26, 2010, Mayor Ravenstahl celebrated the reopening of Market Square after a $5 million renovation effort. This project was made possible through leadership and financial backing from the City of Pittsburgh, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Heinz Endowments, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Colcom Foundation, and Hillman Foundation.

servePGH initiative

On September 10, 2009, Mayor Ravenstahl pledged Pittsburgh’s commitment to the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act by joining the Cities of Service coalition. Through servePGH, the city mobilizes volunteer efforts to support neighborhood growth and youth involvement.

The servePGH initiative connects volunteers with programs such as:

• Love Your Block: Providing resources for revitalizing neighborhoods on a block-by-block basis
• Redd Up Zone: Volunteer-led litter cleanup to improve street safety and appearance
• Snow Angels: Helping residents maintain sidewalks during winter months
• Mayor’s Mentoring Initiative: City staff mentor middle school students weekly in collaboration with Be A 6th Grade Mentor
• Civic Leadership Academy: A complimentary program designed to cultivate knowledgeable community leaders established by Mayor Ravenstahl

Lemieux Celebrity Invitational Golf incident

Mayor Ravenstahl encountered criticism for his participation in the $9,000-per-person Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational golf event held in June 2007, sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Pittsburgh Penguins. The city’s ethics board expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest and perceptions that favors might be owed to those underwriting his attendance. Republican mayoral contender Mark DeSantis publicly urged Ravenstahl to commit to an ethics pledge in response. Half a year later, Ravenstahl proposed legislation that could exempt UPMC from paying certain current and future taxes. The timing drew scrutiny as it occurred during the final 2007 City Council session when two council members were departing and another had resigned amid indictment.

Controversial use of a police vehicle

In August 2007, Mayor Ravenstahl utilized an SUV funded by Homeland Security to attend a concert by Toby Keith, raising concerns about potential violations of grant conditions. He justified his decision by citing his youth and active lifestyle. Following the incident, Sgt. Mona Wallace reportedly experienced intimidation after bringing the matter to light. Police Chief Nate Harper initially pursued disciplinary measures against her; however, Public Safety Director Michael Huss subsequently overturned the reprimand.

Banner controversy

Amid the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2008 Stanley Cup playoff run, the team and Reebok planned to display advertisements on two buildings in downtown Pittsburgh. This initiative was complicated by a temporary ban on new signage downtown, which had been enacted after disputes over an electronic billboard approved without competitive bidding by Urban Redevelopment Authority director Pat Ford. To proceed, the Penguins and Reebok sought approval from Mayor Ravenstahl’s chief of staff, Yarone Zober, who coordinated with City Council members, including President Doug Shields, to pass legislation permitting the banners. However, due to Victoria Day observances in Canada, Reebok was unable to produce the banners on schedule. Mayor Ravenstahl attributed the delay to City Council, a claim that Councilman Bill Peduto, a Penguins season ticket holder, labeled as a "bold faced lie." Correspondence obtained by WTAE TV supported Peduto’s assertion.

Police Credit Union transaction investigation

In February 2013, both the FBI and IRS issued subpoenas for documents from police headquarters and the police credit union—operated independently—regarding thousands of unauthorized transactions involving taxpayer funds dating back to 2004, prior to Ravenstahl's administration. No accusations have been directed at Ravenstahl himself. On February 21, 2013, Ravenstahl acknowledged that personnel within his police protection detail had used credit cards linked to these unauthorized accounts without consent or oversight from the city controller’s office.

Additional controversies

• On August 27, 2008, Pat Ford resigned as Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), denouncing the Ravenstahl administration for fostering a "culture of deception and corruption." Ford’s attorney emphasized issues surrounding the awarding of a URA contract to the highest bidder among three proposals, contravening Pennsylvania law mandating contracts be awarded to the "lowest responsible bidder." Ford characterized Ravenstahl’s leadership as a "failed administration" that unfairly scapegoated him. Councilman William Peduto criticized these contracting practices, asserting that Pittsburgh had become "a city for sale" rather than one open for business.

• In December 2006, Matthew McTish, president of McTish, Kunkel & Associates, contributed $10,000 to Ravenstahl’s campaign. The following August, McTish’s firm was awarded a $525,000 URA contract despite submitting the highest bid. This contract and others were subsequently subjected to investigation by the City Controller.

• In February 2009, Ravenstahl came under fire for allocating $252,000 in state grant funds toward purchasing 250 trash bins emblazoned with his name. The cost—exceeding $1,000 per unit—and use of public funds for apparent personal promotion attracted criticism ahead of the mayoral election. The succeeding Peduto administration removed officials’ names from such items and prohibited their placement on public property.

• During the G20 Summit held in Pittsburgh on September 25–26, 2009, over 190 individuals were arrested amid protests. The aggressive law enforcement response drew criticism directed at both Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato concerning event management.

• On November 10, 2009, Ravenstahl introduced a city budget proposal incorporating a 1% "privilege" tax on student tuition fees. This levy would amount to approximately $27 annually for Community College of Allegheny County students, $135 for those attending the University of Pittsburgh, and $400 for Carnegie Mellon University students—even though only about 20% of CMU's student body are Pennsylvania residents. The tax targeted various institutions including Carlow University, Duquesne University, Chatham University, Point Park University; trade schools like Pittsburgh Technical Institute and Kaplan Inc.; theological seminaries; and arts institutions such as the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania Culinary Institute. Students criticized this measure as disproportionately impacting those enrolled in higher-tuition universities.

Post-mayoral career

Following his tenure as mayor, Ravenstahl became part of Peoples Natural Gas in 2015 and advanced to the role of vice president of sales and marketing by 2017.

See also

• City of Pittsburgh
• Pittsburgh Public Schools
• Youth politics

External links

• "Baby-Faced Mayor Takes Over an Aging Pittsburgh", The New York Times, September 9, 2006
• Luke For Mayor, Ravenstahl's reelection site
• CityMayors profile