Bill Peduto

Peduto speaks at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 2009.

In the 2001 election, Peduto ran for the Pittsburgh City Council District 8 seat being vacated by 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 reelected in 2005 and 2009.[8]

On the city council, Peduto chaired the Committee on General Services, Technology and the Arts, which is in charge of all contracts and purchases as well as city-owned buildings and land. He also oversaw the City Information Systems department, the Cable Bureau and the Art Commission on Council. Peduto has called himself a proponent of progressivism and a "Reform Democrat."[12] 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.[13]

Peduto launched his first campaign for mayor of Pittsburgh in 2005. He lost the primary to eventual general election winner Bob O'Connor. In 2006, after O'Connor died, 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, but ended his campaign before the primary, acknowledging Ravenstahl's popularity.[14] Peduto faced criticism for this decision from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial board, which accused him of "political cowardice."[15]

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 reelected to the city council in 2009, he again challenged Ravenstahl in the 2013 Democratic primary.[8]

In December 2012, Peduto officially launched his third mayoral campaign, announcing that he would challenge Ravenstahl in the 2013 mayoral primary, and was immediately endorsed by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. He simultaneously announced that he would not seek reelection to the city council.[16] Ravenstahl announced in March 2013 that he would not seek another term as mayor.[17] Several other candidates launched campaigns, but after Ravenstahl's exit, it became 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%.[18][19]

In November 2013, Peduto defeated Republican candidate Joshua Wander, who lived in Israel at the time of the election, and independent candidate Lester Ludwig, receiving 84% of the vote. He was inaugurated on January 6, 2014.[4][1]

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.[20] Subsequently, ride-sharing service Lyft acquired temporary approval for operation in August 2014 pending a hearing regarding a permanent license.[21]

In July 2014, Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh dropped a lawsuit that Ravenstahl had launched against UPMC, challenging its tax-exempt status. Peduto said the suit impeded progress in ongoing negotiations between UPMC and the city on taxes.[22]

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.[23]

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.[24][25]

In a statement on Twitter in the run-up to the 2018 primary elections, Peduto announced his support for the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes.[26]

In 2019, Peduto introduced multiple proposals to city council to restrict firearms access that were met with heavy resistance. The bills were eventually passed by the city council after months of heated debate [27] The bills were met with heavy resistance with lawsuits being threatened, until the city decided to not enforce the laws they passed.

On August 18th, 2020, Pittsburgh residents protesting police brutality demonstrated outside Peduto's home, staying until 10am the next day,[28] when police officers declared the assembly unlawful. Later on the 19th, Peduto released a statement criticizing the protests, saying that any demonstration in his residential area "crosses a line that cannot be allowed to continue".[29] The mayor's office later announced that Peduto would be at his home that evening to speak to protesters. After an unproductive conversation, Pittsburgh Police again declared an unlawful assembly, and after giving unclear dispersal orders, marched the protesters into nearby Mellon Park and ordered them to enter. Police then incorrectly stated that the park was closed[30] and began to fire tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets at the crowd. These actions were quickly condemned by a local law professor,[31] but as of yet there has been no official condemnation of this unlawful kettling incident from the mayor's office.

Peduto announced on December 14, 2016, that he was running for reelection in 2017.[32] He faced two challengers in the May primary: John Welch, a progressive minister who challenged Peduto from the left, and city councilwoman Darlene Harris, a longtime foe, who had not filed an official campaign organization. He defeated both to win the Democratic nomination, and did not face any Republican candidate in the general election, as none filed to run in the primary.[33] Peduto was reelected with approximately 96% of the ballots cast on November 7, 2017.[34]

In January 2021, Peduto formally announced his intention to seek a third term in the 2021 election.[35]