PITTSBURGH -- After five years of marriage, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and his wife, Erin, said late Monday night that they are separating.
The mayor has moved out of the couple's home in Summer Hill and is staying with his brother, who also lives in the city. He did not go to his office in the City-County Building on Tuesday.
Video - 
Watch Bob Mayo's Report
Video - Watch Jon Greiner's ReportThe Ravenstahls met while they were students at North Catholic High School and married in 2004, when Luke was a city councilman.
In a written statement, the mayor said, "For some time, like many couples, Erin and I have been working hard to build a successful marriage and have faced the challenges associated with that. Sadly, Erin and I have decided that it is in our family's best interest to formally separate."
In a written statement, Erin Ravenstahl said, "Luke and I have made the very difficult decision to formally separate. I am a private person, so sharing this very personal matter publicly is difficult for me, but I understand that this is something that Pittsburgh should know."
The Ravenstahls have retained Philadelphia attorney Richard Sprague to represent them -- not in any divorce proceedings, but in contacts with the media.
"If you like or don't like what he's doing as mayor, take him up on those activities, but leave this couple alone in terms of their personal marriage," Sprague said.
By phone, Sprague told Channel 4 Action News reporter Bob Mayo that his job is "to prevent there being a whole bunch of smears, innuendoes, defamatory things being suggested. If that is so, I will bring appropriate legal action."
The couple appeared in public together at Mayor Ravenstahl's re-election party at Mullen's on the North Shore a few weeks ago, but relations had apparently been strained for some time. Their last major announcement came when Erin Ravenstahl
gave birth to their first child, Cooper Luke, in November 2008.
"Erin and I are now focused on continuing to enjoy a relationship, albeit a very different one, for the continuity and benefit of everyone involved, most importantly, our son Cooper," the mayor said in his statement. "Our relationship is, and will continue to be, amicable. We do not know what the future will hold for us. We have no immediate plans to pursue a formal divorce. We simply ask that Pittsburgh understand and respect our family's privacy as we deal with this very personal matter."
"I will always be Luke's friend and continue to share with him our love of our son, Cooper. We will continue to make sure that he is raised in a loving and supportive family," Erin Ravenstahl said in her statement.
On Tuesday, some of Ravenstahl's co-workers reacted to news of the split.
"These positions that we have, being elected officials, are very stressful to our family lives, all of us. And I would hope that the media and the residents of the city of Pittsburgh respect their privacy at this time," said City Councilman Jim Motznik.
"I just hope that everybody gives the family its due and reserve judgments and whatnot. That's personal business. And there's really not a place for it in the public discourse," said City Council President Doug Shields.
Channel 4 Action News' Jon Greiner asked Pittsburgh residents Tuesday night if the mayor owed it to the public to disclose the separation from his wife prior to this month's election.
"I don't believe so," Melinda Culter told Greiner. "I think that your personal life is your person life, and it's separate from your work."
Another city resident, Jason Barkley, said he did not think the Ravenstahl's announcement will affect the way the mayor does his job.
"I don't think that's any of the voter's business," Barkley said. "I mean it doesn't have to do with how he runs the town, so I'm not really concerned about it."
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