Tube City Almanac

November 06, 2007

On Hizzoner

Category: Good Government On The March, Politics || By

Today is Election Day. In the all-important city mayoral race, I predict a landslide victory for the Democrat, who has proven himself competent, alert and an excellent ambassador for the region.

I mean Jim Brewster, of course. Who did you think I was talking about?

Oh, Opie "Luke" Ravenstahl? Yeah, he's gonna win, too. Maybe not as big as he would have if he hadn't made so many missteps this year, but I'd say by 20 points, at least.

Short of Ravenstahl getting caught in the back of St. Paul's Cathedral, making love to a goat while wearing a Baltimore Ravens jersey, there was no way Ravenstahl wasn't going to be elected.

. . .

Here's another thing: DeSantis only looks good in comparison to Ravenstahl. Otherwise, DeSantis is a very weak campaigner.

That will win me no fans in the Pittsburgh District Council of the International Brotherhood of Internet Pundits, Cutpurses and Misanthropes, but it has to be said.

I like DeSantis' positions on a lot of issues, and I don't like Ravenstahl's positions on a lot of issues. I especially don't like some of his ethical pratfalls, or his arrogance. So while I don't live in Pittsburgh (I'm one of those parasitical suburbanites), I should be favorably disposed to DeSantis.

But I'm unimpressed with him.

On the other hand, everyone keeps talking about Ravenstahl's "monotonous voice." I've seen him speak, too, and he's very good. He's certainly not monotonous. He's especially good in question and answer sessions. He exudes confidence.

I'm not saying Ravenstahl should or shouldn't be mayor. But he's not a box of loose parts, as some people claim.

. . .

So, there you go. I've been wrong before. (I thought the Santorum-Casey race would be closer.) But I think this is an easy call. I'd be shocked if Ravenstahl wins by less than 10 points.

And for the record, Brewster would make an excellent mayor of Pittsburgh, too. Maybe McKeesport needs to annex its noisy neighbor.

. . .

Remember: If you live in Our Fair City, you are voting on a referendum whether to amend the city charter to allow public employees to run for certain elected offices. (I call it the "Deny Donato De Pleasure of De Lawsuit" clause.) (Update: Wrong, wrong, wrong. See the comments.)

Elsewhere, you're voting for Allegheny County Council or Westmoreland County commissioners as well as school directors. And while I don't make endorsements ('cause nobody cares), the race for the Allegheny County Council At-Large seats deserves your attention for all of the reasons laid out by Maria of 2 Political Junkies.

School directors and county officials are the people who set your property taxes. So vote, darn you!

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Find Your Polling Place:



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Correction, Not Perfection: The proposed amendment to the city's home-rule charter will not face the voters until the spring, as Councilor Paul Shelly points out in the comments. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.






Your Comments are Welcome!

Man, I take a day off and you have a Pat Cloonan moment…. (sorry Pat!)

Yesterday’s referendum in McKeesport was to raise the maximum amount of a purchase not to go out to bid from $2500 (in 1976 dollars) to the new state level of $10,000. I supported it and surprisingly (given voter distrust of politicians with their money) it passed by a narrow margin….

The bastardized home rule charter ammendment of which you speal will be on the Spring ballot.

You should use better sources. I know one blog in town that vet’s info better than the Daily News… ;-)

-Paul
Paul Shelly (URL) - November 07, 2007




Jason,

No autopsy, no foul.

WHile we are on the subject, isn’t it interesting that the ammendment that passed had about 49% of the people opposed to? When I was at the polls yesterday, talking to the folks, I encounterred a real lack of trust for our local elected officials. (Present company excluded.)

Also, about 25% of the folks voting preferred “none of the above” over our unopposed Mayor. Maybe DeSantis should have run in McKeesport…
Paul Shelly (URL) - November 07, 2007




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