Babyfaced Mayor Ravenstahl Faces Uphill Battle

Even if he can keep the mayoral post despite legal challenges, newly appointed Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has a lot of road to cover if he wants to be the people's mayor.

Pittsburghers don't have a lot of love for politicians. They're mostly Steelers fans who work hard, play hard and only respect those who get down in the trenches alongside them. Mayor Bob O'Connor was just such a man.

It was obvious to even those who didn't know him, O'Connor loved Pittsburgh. After losing the mayoral race in 2001 by only 699 votes O'Connor ran and won again in 2005. It was his life long dream to serve as mayor of Pittsburgh and when the news of his victory was announced the grin from ear to ear couldn't have been any bigger.

During his short term, O'Connor made everyone he came into contact with feel important and like they could make a difference in revitalizing and cleaning up the city. His "Redd Up" campaign put $500,000 toward bettering the previously beat up city and incorporated all city residents in the process.

Therefore it came as a devastating blow when eight months after being elected beloved 61 year-old Mayor Bob O'Connor passed away. The mayor died September 1st after a sudden brain cancer diagnosis. While the steel city grieved, 26 year-old City Council president Ravenstahl was appointed just four years after graduating college.

It's been three weeks since he took office and it's been a whirlwind. Press conferences and appearances on late night talk shows have put Pittsburgh on the map as having one of the youngest mayors in our country's history. But age isn't the only thing against him. Ravenstahl is running a city that doesn't know or trust him on the heels of the first mayor both sides of the aisle could agree was a genuine and caring man who wanted the best for the city.

The people of Pittsburgh thought they finally had a leader to bring the city out of financial ruin and to create a vitality that has been void for so many years. Now a new face they didn't vote for is filling in and a sense of uneasiness has settled over the city.

Also up in the air, how long before there will be another mayoral election. The city's charter is vague on the matter. Some lawyers have said the election should occur next year, while others have said it can't occur until 2009. Allegheny County Executive Dan Oranato says the Elections Division and Law Department could clarify the city's charter and make a decision as soon as next month.

In the meantime, Mayor Ravenstahl continues to run the day to day operations of a city that can't make heads or tails of the current situation and don't know what kind of leader is at the helm.