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.

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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:

• Allegheny County Residents


• Westmoreland County Residents


• Washington County Residents

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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.