E-mails written to mayor published by mayoral candidate

An opponent’s campaign published documents claiming that a member of Pitt’s Board of… An opponent’s campaign published documents claiming that a member of Pitt’s Board of Trustees has an “unethical” and “inappropriate” relationship with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s office.

Mayoral candidate Kevin Acklin’s campaign released a series of e-mails documenting communication between Ravenstahl and John Verbanac, a Pittsburgh businessman and member of Pitt’s Board of Trustees, this week.

Ravestahl’s press secretary, Joanna Doven, would neither confirm nor deny the validity of the e-mails.

“It’s a campaign issue. You’ll have to call the campaign office about that,” she said.

Ravenstahl’s campaign office did not immediately respond to phone calls, and Doven did not respond to two additional phone calls.

Verbanac declined to comment, saying that a prepared statement would be available this morning.

An e-mail distributed by Acklin’s campaign and dated April 11, 2007, depicts Verbanac recommening that Ravenstahl fire members of the mayor’s staff who had worked for the administrations of former mayors Bob O’Connor and Tom Murphy.

The e-mail depicts Verbanac saying, “When we confront the real issues, we’ll need a strong team. A loyal team. A team that reflects the hearts and minds of the RAVENSTAHL Administration.”

While discussing the city’s long-term planning in that e-mail, Verbanac referred to the future of Pittsburgh as “yours, mine and ours.”

In one e-mail dated Feb. 25, 2008, Verbanac advised Ravenstahl not to fire someone in the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh because of his family connections.

Ravenstahl asked Verbanac to attend a meeting with several other staffers that involved planning for Pittsburgh’s future in another e-mail, dated April 19, 2007.

Another e-mail, dated Dec. 2, 2006, included a draft of Ravenstahl’s announcement of his candidacy for mayor which Verbanac helped to write. Ravenstahl announced his candidacy for mayor two days later, on Dec. 4, 2006.

In the e-mail that accompanied the speech, Verbanac advised, “I would encourage him not to free lance. Everything in the speech has a reason.”

Pitt spokesman John Fedele said yesterday morning that he was not aware of the situation and the University will consider publishing a statement at a later date.