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Peduto And Staff Ready To Move Into New Offices

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Mayor-Elect Bill Peduto showed up at the City-County Building with a bucket and bible.

But before the mayor-elect and his executive team could begin cleaning their fifth-floor offices, father Terry O'Connor, son of the late mayor Bob O-Connor, offered a prayer.

"We thank you, in a special way, for the gift of our soon-to-be Mayor Bill Peduto and his executive team," O'Connor said. "We ask that you fill them with faith, love, courage and perseverance."

Chief of Staff Kevin Acklin brought a floor plan, to show executive team members where to find their new offices. One thing that won't change is the nearly 100-year-old desk in the mayor's office.

"This desk represents to me the role that comes with responsibility," said Peduto. "And when I look at the desk, I think of the people that sat here, before me. People I look up to."

Peduto will be sitting at that desk for the next four years. But, he says he'll be surrounded by a team that will reflect the restructuring of city government that will be more adaptable and willing to listen to people.

"I think that there's more of a sense of openness, because there's really a mandate from the public for that," he said. "People are really looking for city government to clean up. They can see it's not being done in a way that gives the best services to everybody."

"I think that you're going to see that from the entire team, in terms of dedication to service, we're all here to serve," he continued. "We're all going to be available to people in the communities."

Peduto says his team is already proving itself, quickly recognizing the need to change the location of his inauguration Monday from outdoors to indoors at Heinz Hall, because of extreme cold.

"I don't know of any other team that could spend two weeks planning for one of the largest outdoor events and then, within 24 hours, switch and have it indoors at a whole new facility – and not miss a beat," Peduto said.

Mayor-Elect Peduto says he'll be counting heavily on his team over the next four years. His new team starts Monday, when Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's name is replaced on the door by soon-to-be Mayor Bill Peduto.

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