PITTSBURGH -- Incumbent Luke Ravenstahl defeated two challengers in the Democratic primary Tuesday and will run for re-election as Pittsburgh's mayor in November -- possibly without a Republican opponent.
Ravenstahl had 26,139 votes (59 percent) with votes counted from all but one precinct. He defeated City Councilman Patrick Dowd (28 percent) and former police officer Carmen Robinson (13 percent).
"We've laid out an ambitious and bold 11-point plan for the future of this city to realize, ultimately, this city's third renaissance," Ravenstahl said at a victory party at Hofbrauhaus in the South Side Works. "I can't tell you how excited I am to begin that work as early as tomorrow morning, to roll up our sleeves and to rebuild this city, just like those that were before us did."
Dowd said he ran, in part, because Ravenstahl's administration has not been transparent, while Robinson said she wanted to focus on Pittsburgh's most distressed neighborhoods.
"I think we've provided a good conversation for the city about the next four years and where we're heading, and that's important. I'm really excited. We've had hundreds of volunteers," Dowd said. "I pledge and will continue to work to hold leadership of the city -- myself included -- accountable to the people we talk to and the people that we serve each and every day."
The campaign generated some heat between Ravenstahl and Dowd. Ravenstahl made a point to thank Robinson in his victory speech, but he made no mention of his other challenger.
"My mom always told me, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all,' and so that's what I chose to do tonight. I think Patrick crossed the line in his campaign," Ravenstahl told WTAE Channel 4's Bob Mayo, adding that he's waiting for an apology.
Video: Watch Mayo's Interview With RavenstahlThough Robinson trailed far behind, the Hill District resident said becoming the city's first black female candidate was an important step for Pittsburgh. She plans to mount another challenge in 2013.
"What I'm going to do is say 'good luck' to the mayor, but I'm going to stay on his heels," Robinson told supporters at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel. "Not only am I coming back in four years, I'm coming back tomorrow. I'm going to be running a race tomorrow."
No Republican candidates declared in time to be included on the primary ballot Tuesday.
Ravenstahl and Squirrel Hill's Josh Wander made bids to win the Republican nomination as write-in candidates, but those results won't be known for days.
Kevin Acklin, of Squirrel Hill, and Franco "Dok" Harris, of Shadyside, will run against Ravenstahl as independent candidates in the Nov. 3 general election.
As City Council president,
Ravenstahl replaced Mayor Bob O'Connor in September 2006 when O'Connor died of brain cancer. In 2007,
he beat Republican Mark DeSantis in a special election that allowed Ravenstahl to complete O'Connor's four-year term.
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