The View From Afar

I don't know ... is it just me, or is there something unseemly and a little bit morbid about the way that interim Picksberg Mayor Opie "Luke" Ravenstahl invokes the name of the late Bob O'Connor at every turn?

It was bad enough when Ravenstahl plastered his face on O'Connor's "Let's Redd Up Pittsburgh" program. But go to Ravenstahl's website, and you'll see O'Connor's ghostly visage looking over the interim mayor's shoulder as part of a photo montage. Or take this campaign video (please), sent by an Alert Reader. Ravenstahl waits a whole 15 seconds before mentioning O'Connor.

I understand Ravenstahl's desire to invoke stability and continuity of leadership, but it's as if LBJ had run for election in 1964 by riding around Dealey Plaza in a Lincoln convertible. (I suppose it could be worse. We're lucky Ravenstahl never saw "Weekend at Bernie's.")

Perhaps Ravenstahl doesn't feel that he has enough of a record of his own to campaign on. That's understandable --- after all, he's only been mayor for a few months --- but it doesn't give him the right to appropriate O'Connor's legacy for his own.

Yes, I know members of the O'Connor family have endorsed Ravenstahl, and maybe they feel he is carrying the late mayor's standard forward. But it doesn't make these blatant attempts to cash in on O'Connor's death any less palatable, and it's a cheat since there's no evidence that Ravenstahl was ever a trusted member of O'Connor's inner circle before the mayor became ill.

I suspect most of the warm, fuzzy feelings that Picksbergers seem to have for their mayor stem from their warm, fuzzy feelings for O'Connor, and sadly, that's probably enough to elect Ravenstahl. And that's setting aside Ravenstahl's questionable use of city money to send out mailings with his puss all over them just two months before the election.

Just remember, all of you disaffected and disgruntled Pittsburgh residents: If you're unhappy with your city's leadership, there's plenty of inexpensive, quality housing in Our Fair City and the Steel Valley. Hey, the Post-Gazette says it, so it must be true, right?

To paraphrase Tom Bodett: We'll leave the lights on for yinz 'n' at.