Mayoral candidates, head to head

Name: Mark DeSantis Age: 48 Political Affiliation: Republican

Career Management consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton Policy analyst, U.S. Department of Commerce Policy analyst, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Policy aide to former U.S. Sen. John Heinz Director of government relations, Texas Instruments Managing director, ANGLE Technology Consulting and Management Founder, president of Formation3, LLC, a firm that provides assistance to tech firms President, MobileFusion Adjunct professor in the Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University

Issues and Goals To increase pension funds. To reduce corporate and personal taxes. To promote transparency and establish greater governmental efficiency. To improve safety with a no-tolerance crime policy. To create a sustainable economic plan for neighborhood and community development.

Name: Luke Ravenstahl Age: 27 Political Affiliation: Democrat

Career Member, Pittsburgh City Council (2004–2005) President, Pittsburgh City Council (2005–2006) Mayor of Pittsburgh (2006–present)

Issues and Goals To invest in better technology for police and fire departments. To plan for the financial future of Pittsburgh. To analyze how taxpayer money is spent on a month-by-month basis. To increase direct communication with the city’s workforce. To work with businesses to establish a more business-friendly environment. To increase the number of buses between Downtown and Oakland. To create more job opportunities in Pittsburgh for college graduates and improve the city’s economy and development.