Mayor To Speak Out Today, Speculation Growing
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The rumblings surrounding Mayor Luke Ravenstahl keep growing.
After rumors of a formal announcement from the mayor about his future Thursday turned out to be false, the mayor announced Friday morning that he will hold a press conference at 11 a.m.
There's word his mother is dealing with a serious health issue and he could be leaving the mayor's office.
Will he stay or will he go? Will he campaign for mayor or will he drop out of the race? These are all questions that are still lingering Friday.
Media was camped out for hours Thursday after word that Ravenstahl would be announcing a big change -- more specifically at a press conference in the afternoon.
But no press conference ever came about and speculation about the mayor's next move is growing.
One rumor Thursday was that Ravenstahl would quit and not seek re-election amidst the news that his mother has been diagnosed with cancer.
Another rumor was that he was tired of the scrutiny and questioning in the wake of former Police Chief Nate Harper's resignation and details about his security.
Thursday Pennsylvania Democratic Chairman Jim Burn said he predicts the mayor will not seek re-election.
"I am 95 percent that the mayor is probably not going to run, that is my current analysis of what I see, what I hear and what I've been told," he said.
Councilman Bill Peduto, who dropped out of the mayoral race previously, also weighed in Thursday saying he knows it's a tough decision.
"It's one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to do professionally," said Peduto. "I know where he's at if that's what he's thinking right now. It's a difficult situation, and I think that he deserves a little bit of time."
KDKA has crews at the Mayor's office and will bring you the latest details.
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