Ravenstahl re-elected as Pittsburgh’s mayor

Luke Ravenstahl promised Pittsburgh residents a “bright future” when he accepted his… Luke Ravenstahl promised Pittsburgh residents a “bright future” when he accepted his re-election for mayor last night.

Ravenstahl — who earned about 55 percent of the vote yesterday — said he “didn’t necessarily aspire to this office” when he became mayor three years ago, following the death of then-mayor Bob O’Connor.

“But we accomplished some wonderful things,” Ravenstahl said, referencing the economic redevelopment that prompted President Barack Obama to host the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh last month.

Ravenstahl, who will begin his first four-year term in office after inauguration this January, said he thinks more work needs to be done to improve public safety, as well as the city’s financial standing.

He said he will meet with City Council Monday to discuss the 2010 budget, which includes a proposal to tax college students more than $100 a year to help provide revenue for the city’s pension fund.

Ravenstahl said he thinks nonprofit institutions, like Pitt, need to do more to contribute to the city. He said he hopes Pitt would cover the tax itself, but that the city will tax students if it needs to.

“They’re not ideal,” Ravenstahl said of the taxes, “but they’re something we have to do.”

Ravenstahl said he is “excited to lead. I’m ready to lead.”

He also said he was relieved to be re-elected. Ravenstahl said he hopes to take a short vacation, though he doesn’t yet have one planned and that he looks forward to seeing his wife, Erin, and son, Cooper, more often.

Independent challenger Franco “Dok” Harris received about 25 percent of the vote, and Independent challenger Kevin Acklin received about 20 percent of the vote, with 99 percent of the precincts reporting. About 50,500 people voted yesterday — approximately 15 percent of the city’s population.

The following people were elected or re-elected to City Council: Robert Daniel Lavelle of District 6, Natalia Rudiak of District 4 and Theresa Smith of District 2. Bill Peduto will continue to represent North Oakland, which is part of District 8.

Joan Orie Melvin won the race for state Supreme Court Justice, while the following people were elected as state Superior Court judges: Robert J. Colville, Anne E. Lazarus, Kevin Francis McCarthy and Teresa Sarmina.