Mayor Luke Ravenstahl became Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, "America's Most Livable City," in September 2006 at the age of 26 following the untimely death of Mayor Bob O’Connor. He went on to win a special election in November 2007 and on November 3, 2009, Ravenstahl was re-elected to a full four-year term. The 33-year-old Pittsburgh native still holds the distinction of being the youngest mayor of any major U.S. city. Ravenstahl is a 1998 graduate of North Catholic High School, located in the Troy Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He received his B.A. in Business Administration from Washington and Jefferson College in 2002 where he graduated with honors. Only one year later, Ravenstahl became the youngest member ever elected to Pittsburgh City Council. After serving only two years on council, Ravenstahl was unanimously voted City Council President, a post he held for only eight months before being sworn in as Mayor O'Connor's successor.

During his six years in office, Mayor Ravenstahl has taken a City that was on the brink of bankruptcy to a City whose bond rating has been upgraded several times and, due to a fiscal management approach that holds the line on spending, has paid off nearly $300 million in debt.

Under Ravenstahl's leadership, Pittsburgh is experiencing its Third Renaissance, one that is benefitting Pittsburgh neighborhoods unlike ever before. There is progressive improvement, job creation and more than $5 billion in economic development happening in downtown alone. During a time of global recession, the City's unemployment rate remains below the national average. Citing Pittsburgh's strong economy, President Obama hand-picked Pittsburgh to host the G-20 summit in 2009.

Mayor Ravenstahl's plan to grow the City's new, diverse economy emphasizes the continued revitalization of the City's neighborhoods. The Mayor aims to keep Pittsburgh as "America's Most Livable City" through community and public safety initiatives. For the sixth year in a row, Pittsburgh is seeing crime rates at 40-year historic lows. The Mayor's top initiative, the Pittsburgh Promise, is allowing more and more Pittsburgh Public School students to pursue their dream of higher education. The innovative scholarship program provides students with up to $40,000 toward college and has helped nearly 3,800 students since 2007.