Aletheia Henry, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s campaign manager, thinks 13 is a lucky number. With 13 Tuesdays between now and primary election day and 13 hours to gather votes on election day, 2013 is full of both superstition and hope for the Ravenstahl campaign team.

Hundreds of people gathered at 6 p.m. in the basement of Ravenstahl’s campaign headquarters in the Strip District last night for the mayor’s Campaign Kickoff Office Opening and Petition Party. In a 15-minute speech to campaign supporters at the event, Ravenstahl covered a range of topics including job growth, investment in neighborhoods and fiscal responsibility.

Ravenstahl, who has served as mayor of Pittsburgh since fall of 2006, is running for mayor against City Councilman Bill Peduto and City Controller Michael Lamb in this year’s Democratic primary. The election is set to take place on May 21.

After several introductory speeches by members of the mayor’s campaign team, Henry called Ravenstahl to the stage. In a black suit jacket and patterned red tie, Ravenstahl approached the microphone at 6:45 p.m.

Before he had time to reach the stage, supporters had risen from their seats with amplifying applause and hollers from various individuals chanting “Luke” in low, strong voices.

Standing in front of a white backdrop covered by hundreds of children’s signatures painted in various colors and a painted mural of the mayor amidst notable Pittsburgh scenery, Ravenstahl began his speech by declaring that he believes in what is happening in the city and claiming that “now is the best time to be in Pittsburgh.”

“There are more people working in Pittsburgh than ever before,” he said, citing statistics that the employment rate is higher than it was during the height of the city’s steel industry days.

Ravenstahl noted that much has changed in Pittsburgh over the last 30 years. According to Ravenstahl, 30 years ago, there was a 17 to 18 percent unemployment rate, which caused 50,000 people to leave the city. Currently, he said, the population is growing.

The current mayor added that this pattern of positive change has continued in his time as head of city government.

Ravenstahl attributed the change he’s overseen during his six years in office to three major points — an economic climate for growth, investment in the neighborhoods of the city and taking fiscal responsibility.

Ravenstahl said he was able to create a climate for growth in his position as mayor through a commitment to keep taxes low and do more with less.

He added that he has invested in the neighborhoods of the city, improving them over the years.

“North, west, east and south — everyone’s well represented,” he said. “We make sure [the neighborhoods] are safe and clean. The crime rate is 25 percent lower than it was six years ago, and that’s a testament to the hard-working men of the police department.”

Ravenstahl said that efforts to improve the quality of surrounding neighborhoods included removing abandoned structures and creating garden space.

He also addressed the issue of fiscal responsibility, saying that although he has had to turn some people down when they requested money for a project, the results have been a reduction in city debt.

Tracy Sun, a sophomore at Pitt, attended the evening’s event to show her support for the mayor’s past and present initiatives.

Although Sun assisted President Barack Obama in his 2012 campaign for the U.S. presidency, she has not volunteered for any local campaigns. But this year, Sun plans to volunteer by canvassing for Ravenstahl.

She insisted that the mayoral election is specifically important for Pitt students.

“It’s local, so it almost affects Pitt students more than the presidential election,” she said. “Although not as many people pay attention to it, it’s still important.”

Sun expressed her doubts that the student population would become involved in the mayoral election.

“I’m not sure they even know who our mayor is,” she said.

While the student contingent at the event was small, other members of the Pitt community attended as well.

Jennifer Satler, mock trial coach at Pitt Law, attended Ravenstahl’s event as part of her attempt to attend every mayoral event. Satler’s interest in the race derives, in part, from her own campaign for a spot on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.

Although Satler’s presence was non-political, she said that it is vital that students become involved in local politics.

“It’s convenient to get to the events and it’s important to have your voice heard,” she said. “It’s also good preparation for real life.”