Luke Ravenstahl Calls Win “Resounding Victory”

Ravenstahl says his only goal was to get one more vote than the other two candidates and he is pleased with his 55-percent showing at the polls. He says he is, “ready to work with anybody, whether they voted for me or not.” Ravenstahl says now is the time to unite, “We all love Pittsburgh and that is our message. Bigger and better things are ahead.” Ravenstahl says he has been in constant campaign mode since rising to the mayor’s office after Bob O’Connor’s death in 2006. He says it will be nice to know he has 4 years with which to work. “You can look at things over the course of time not just a six month window,” says the mayor. Ravenstahl will not say what his top priorities will be in the coming four years. He says he will announce that as he gets closer to his inauguration in January. In the short term, Ravenstahl will present his 2010 budget to council Monday. He says he will have to educate council about the need for a head tax on college students and a bed tax on hospital stays. He says city residents are over taxed and others need to share the load.