More candidates jump into mayoral race

In the aftermath of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s decision to withdraw his election bid for the mayorship, several potential candidates expressed interest in entering the race.

Yesterday, City Council President Darlene Harris said she will enter the race and started passing around her petition to run. To run for mayor in Pittsburgh’s democratic primaries, an individual must collect 250 signatures from registered and enrolled members of the Democratic party who are also residents of the city by March 12. Harris expressed confidence that she could procure the necessary signatures in time.

“I’ve worked with five mayors. I feel confident that I would be able to lead this city,” Harris said.

Former Pennsylvania State Auditor General Jack Wagner also expressed interest in running for mayor in a statement he released on Saturday. He, too, began collecting signatures on a petition. Last Tuesday, Wagner told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he was considering running as an independent in the general election, rather than entering the primary, but his plans might have changed.

“I am now looking at running in the primary,” he stated on Saturday.

Several other individuals are rumored to have interest in running, but no other petitions are yet circulating.

City Councilman Bill Peduto and City Controller Michael Lamb both filed their petitions and launched their campaigns for mayor prior to Ravenstahl’s announcement.