Pennsylvania: Luke Ravenstahl

The P-G endorses Mayor Luke.

After describing Luke's two opponents, the P-G praises by the process of elimination:

Both Dok Harris and Kevin Acklin are informed, committed Pittsburghers. While they could have an impact as City Council members, it's hard to argue that either has a shot at winning the mayor's office and the ability to take charge of the city's $453 million budget and 3,500 employees.

That leaves the incumbent, with whom we have had our differences. After three years as mayor, he has yet to articulate a vision for the future. He does not have a reputation for working with the state legislative delegation.

While Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato makes his run PA governor official today, he is not without his detractors.

From Dan Onorato:

I wanted you to be among the first to know that I am going to officially announce my candidacy for Governor with a three-day tour across Pennsylvania beginning Tuesday, October 6th.

[snip]

I believe that Pittsburgh's renaissance can be replicated across Pennsylvania. We can stimulate our economy by investing in green technology. We can put Pennsylvanians back to work by creating next-generation jobs in innovative fields. We can provide every child with a quality education by making college more affordable.

But I can only do this with your support.

I guess we gotta do this every few weeks. The last time was July 2.

Here's what they write today:
On the "Watch List": Dan Onorato and Luke Ravenstahl. The Allegheny County chief executive and the mayor of Pittsburgh have begun an eight-month push to bolster census-response rates. Indeed, an accurate count is to the benefit of all. But here's a critical question for them:

Do they support the involvement of ACORN in the survey process? That would be the same ACORN that's accused in a number of states, Pennsylvania included, of voter registration fraud. That would be the same ACORN that aided the subprime mortgage mess by bullying banks to lend to those with dubious financial means.

Life is always a day at the beach for
the luckiest boy in the whole wide world.

Lil Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has (temporarily) dodged another bullet.

Last week Pittsburgh City Council voted to compel Ravenstahl to appear before them to answer questions about the five year Amended Act 47 Recovery plan (Lukey was on vacation last week and seemingly everyone who mattered in his administration was unavailable).

Today's Penguins Stanley Cup victory parade pushes back the showdown until Wednesday.

This is a mayor who is no stranger to luck. He came into the office on a fluke and engendered enough sympathy to become Pittsburgh's Favorite Grandson (the one who can do no wrong no matter