I must admit, when present Mayor Luke Ravenstahl dropped out of the race such a short time before the primary, I really expected to see a race between the remaining two candidates, Bill Peduto and Michael Lamb. But that isn’t what is happening at all. Council President Darlene Harris has affirmed she is circulating petitions, Jack Wagner has announced candidacy and even Jim Ferlo mentioned. Yet, I haven’t really read anyone talking about why this race may be opening up. Why do you think?

I’m not the best blogger to offer an opinion on this. There are folks far more tuned into the City politics like Bram at the Pittsburgh Comet, Chris at the City Paper, and Dave and Maria at 2 Political Junkies. If you don’t read them on a regular basis, you should. But what I do want to do is ask my6 Pittsburgh readers to contemplate the question- why the race is opening up. This is important stuff, because not only will we be selecting the next Mayor, but that mayor will be tasked with sorting out and  fixing all that’s wrong with the Pittsburgh Police Department. We are growing and thriving as a City, and for that to continue, the work of the next Mayor will be crucial! This is no small election! This is no unimportant election!

At one point, it was really unclear if anyone would run against Mayor Luke. And then, the talk was about how three candidates might split the vote and what that could mean. So, what sense does it make for a whole slew of folks to enter the race so late in the game? What is driving that change? What does a race between Bill Peduto and Michael Lamb represent for the City? And whose interest is considered by the addition of these other candidates? What is the battle going n here among the Pittsburgh Democratic Establishment?  The media is reporting this as if Ravenstahl’s exist opened up the primary, but polls never had him at such a lead, that his departure doesn’t really change things, not really. What it does imply is that without the Democratic Machine’s candidate in the race, other Dems within that machine are now free to consider the race. Or does it mean something completely different?

I wasn’t surprised by Harris entering the race. She is a big supporter of the Mayor, and this represents to me, the candidate that continues doing things Luke’s way. Both Wagner and Ferlo were City Council members decades ago. What does their entrance suggest for the future of the City?

Watching this race and considering the candidates is important. Those of us who call Pittsburgh Home, and want it to grow and thrive must recognize how the selection of the next Mayor is critical. Let’s all do our homework, and be smart voters at the Primary.

Photo by By LouisL