Bill Peduto

Bill Peduto

Peduto in 2013
60th Mayor of Pittsburgh
Assumed office
January 6, 2014[1]
Preceded by Luke Ravenstahl
Member of the Pittsburgh City Council from the 8th District
In office
January 7, 2002 – January 6, 2014
Preceded by Dan Cohen
Succeeded by Dan Gilman[2]
Personal details
Born (1964-10-30) October 30, 1964[3]
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Single[4]
Residence Point Breeze, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[4]
Alma mater Pennsylvania State University
University of Pittsburgh
Website Office of Mayor Bill Peduto

William Mark "Bill" Peduto[5] (born October 30, 1964) is an American politician who serves as the 60th Mayor of Pittsburgh. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a member of the Pittsburgh City Council from 2002 until 2014.

Prior to being elected to City Council, Peduto attended Pennsylvania State University, from which he dropped out before later completing his degree. He ran a consulting business and later served as Chief of Staff to his predecessor in City Council, Dan Cohen. Peduto was elected to City Council in 2001 and served from 2002 until 2014. During that time, he ran for Mayor of Pittsburgh three times. In 2005, he ran in the Democratic primary but was defeated by Bob O'Connor, who went on to become mayor in 2006. Peduto again ran in a 2007 special election following O'Connor's death; however, he dropped out before the primary. He ran for mayor for a third time in 2013, this time winning the Democratic nomination and emerging victorious.

In the 2013 election, Peduto defeated opponents Joshua Wander and Lester Ludwig, winning 84% of the vote. After being elected Mayor to succeed the outgoing Luke Ravenstahl, Peduto was inaugurated in January 2014.

Education and early career

Bill Peduto was born on October 30, 1964, and graduated from Chartiers Valley High School in 1983. After one year at Carnegie Mellon University, Peduto transferred to Pennsylvania State University, pursuing a degree in political science. He dropped out, however, before completing the degree requirements. In 2007, Peduto returned to finish his degree requirements and became the only member of the nine-member Pittsburgh City Council at the time to have a bachelor's degree.[6] Later, he received a master's degree in public policy and management from the University of Pittsburgh.[4][6][7]

Peduto operated a political consulting business and served as general consultant, campaign manager, finance director and other roles for several Democratic candidates and elected officials. At 28, he served as a political director for then-acting Governor Mark Singel. He also worked in Washington, D.C. as an intern to then-U.S. Representative George Gekas.[7][8]

Prior to holding a seat on city council, Peduto served as chief of staff to former City Councilman Dan Cohen. In 1996 Peduto was Cohen's campaign manager in a challenge to former U.S. Representative Bill Coyne in the Democratic primary. Peduto is reported to have urged Cohen to make an issue of Coyne's record.[9] The Cohen campaign's subsequent use of negative advertising backfired and contributed to a landslide defeat.[10]

Pittsburgh City Council

Peduto speaks at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 2009.

In the 2001 election, Bill Peduto ran for the Pittsburgh City Council District 8 seat being vacated by Dan Cohen, which represents the East End neighborhoods of Bloomfield, Friendship, Oakland, Point Breeze, Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. After being elected to a four-year term, he assumed office in January 2002. He was subsequently re-elected to two additional terms in 2005 and 2009.[7]

On City Council, he chaired the Committee on General Services, Technology and the Arts. The Committee is in charge of all contracts and purchases as well as city owned buildings and land. Peduto also oversaw the City Information Systems department, the Cable Bureau and the Art Commission on Council. Peduto describes himself as a proponent of progressivism and as a "Reform Democrat."[11] He was named one of "100 New Democrats to Watch" by the Democratic Leadership Council in 2003 and one of National Journal's "PA Up and Comers" in 2004 and 2006.[12]

Mayoral campaigns

Peduto launched his first campaign for Mayor of Pittsburgh in the 2005 mayoral election. He was defeated in the primary, however, by eventual general election winner Bob O'Connor. In 2006, following O'Connor's death, City Council President Luke Ravenstahl became Mayor. In his second bid for Mayor, Peduto mounted a primary challenge to Ravenstahl in the 2007 special election. Peduto ended his campaign before the primary, however, acknowledging Ravenstahl's relative popularity at the time.[13] Peduto faced criticism for this decision from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial board, which accused him of "political cowardice."[14]

Peduto became a political opponent of Ravenstahl's, opposing Ravenstahl's proposal to end Act 47 oversight of Pittsburgh's finances among other issues. After being re-elected to City Council in 2009, Peduto decided that he would again challenge the incumbent mayor in the 2013 Democratic primary.[7]

Mayor of Pittsburgh

In December 2012, Peduto officially launched his third mayoral campaign, announcing that he would challenge Luke Ravenstahl in the 2013 mayoral primary, and was immediately endorsed by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. He simultaneously announced that he would not seek re-election to a fourth term on City Council.[15] Ravenstahl announced in March 2013 that he would not seek another term as Mayor.[16] Several other candidates launched campaigns but after Ravenstahl's exit, the race evolved into a two-way race between Peduto and former Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner. In the May 21 primary, Peduto defeated his opponents, receiving 52% of the vote. Wagner, his closest challenger, received 40%.[17][18]

In November 2013, Peduto defeated Republican candidate Joshua Wander, who was residing in Israel at the time of the election, and independent candidate Lester Ludwig to be elected as the city's 60th mayor, receiving 84% of the vote. He was inaugurated on January 6, 2014.[1][2] However, Pittsburgh is heavily Democratic, and Peduto effectively assured himself of becoming mayor with his primary win.

Peduto is an advocate for ride-sharing in Pittsburgh. After the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission issued cease-and-desist orders in July 2014, Peduto called on the state legislature to allow ride-sharing operators to legally operate in Pittsburgh.[19] Subsequently, ride-sharing service Lyft acquired temporary approval for operation in August 2014 pending a hearing regarding a permanent license.[20]

In July 2014, Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh dropped a lawsuit that his predecessor, Luke Ravenstahl, had launched against UPMC, challenging its tax-exempt status. Peduto indicated his belief that the lawsuit impeded progress in ongoing negotiations between UPMC and the city regarding the payment of taxes.[21]

In early September 2014, Peduto announced the hiring of Cameron McLay as Pittsburgh Chief of Police, which resulted from an extended search following the resignation and subsequent conviction of Nate Harper on charges of tax evasion and slush fund conspiracy.[22]

Peduto appeared on the CBS television series Undercover Boss in December 2014 as "Ed Chadwick." Following the premise of the show, Peduto disguised himself as a municipal worker to observe rank-and-file Pittsburgh employees. As is customary in the show, Peduto rewarded those whose performance was judged to be exemplary with monetary donations. These donations came from anonymous sources, since ethics laws bar the use of tax revenue. Common Cause Pennsylvania, a government watchdog group, called on the Peduto administration to disclose the donors shortly after the episode aired.[23][24]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Code of Ordinances of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania". City of Pittsburgh. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 Laughlin, Nicholas (5 November 2013). "Peduto Coalition Wins Big in Pittsburgh". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Smydo, Joe (5 May 2013). "Peduto, in third Pittsburgh mayoral race, says city at crossroads". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Togneri, Chris (21 October 2013). "Family inspired Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Peduto's passion for politics". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Togneri, Chris (2 January 2015). "First Draft: Pittsburghers can relax: The mayor is fixed". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. 1 2 Hentges, Rochelle (19 March 2007). "Degree of separation". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 O'Toole, Christine (Fall 2013). "Who is Bill Peduto?". Pittsburgh Quarterly. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "July 2013 DMO of the Month: Bill Peduto". National Democratic Municipal Officials. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Potter, Chris (10 July 2002). "I'm Just a Bill: The political education of Bill Peduto". Pittsburgh City Paper.
  10. ↑ Patterson, Maggie; Anitra Budd; Kristin L. Veatch (July 1997). "Campaign Up in Flames: Negative Advertising Backfires and Damages a Young Democrat. pp. 85-109". Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism (80th, Chicago, Illinois, July 30-August 2, 1997). U.S. Department of Education. Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). p. 309.
  11. ↑ Togneri, Chris (4 January 2014). "100 years since another critical juncture, progressive Peduto takes helm". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Bill's Honors". Peduto for Mayor. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Peduto wins Democratic nod for Pittsburgh mayoral race". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "Peduto's exit ... Pittsburgh loses in a case of no guts, no glory". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 22 March 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Bill Peduto To Run For Mayor In Pittsburgh". CBS Pittsburgh. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  16. ↑ Sheehan, Andy (1 March 2013). "Mayor Not Seeking Re-Election". CBS Pittsburgh. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "2013 Democratic Municipal Primary". Allegheny County Division of Elections. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  18. ↑ Magee, Bryan (22 May 2013). "Peduto Wins Pittsburgh Mayor Primary". PoliticsPA. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  19. ↑ Lyons, Kim (3 July 2014). "Lyft, Uber determined to continue in high gear". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Lyft ride-sharing service gets the OK to operate in Pittsburgh". The Patriot-News. Associated Press. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  21. ↑ Zullo, Robert (29 July 2014). "UPMC, city drop legal fight over taxes". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  22. ↑ "Mayor Peduto announces hiring of new Pittsburgh Police Chief". WPXI. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  23. ↑ Owen, Rob (4 December 2014). "Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto stars on CBS reality show 'Undercover Boss'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  24. ↑ Potter, Chris (23 December 2014). "Peduto's appearance on 'Undercover Boss' raises questions about cash gifts". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bill Peduto.
Political offices
Preceded by
Luke Ravenstahl		 Mayor of Pittsburgh
2014–present 		Incumbent
Pittsburgh City Council
Preceded by
Dan Cohen		 Member of the Pittsburgh City Council from the 8th District
2002–2014 		Succeeded by
Dan Gilman
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