Pittsburgh City Council Election: The Fix Is In!

Just got off the phone with a political insider who had a sad sad story to tell.

It's a confusing tale, to be sure, but the bottom line is that back room deals were struck, backs were stabbed, and the fix seems to be in for the next Pittsburgh City Council President.

Not a pretty picture.

As there are 9 members of the City Council, a majority of 5 votes is needed to elect a president. It seems that 4 vote blocks are easy to get. It's that last, fifth vote that's all important.

Here's Rich Lord's setup from the end of December:

Pittsburgh City Council will pick a new leader Monday, and the biennial jockeying is in full swing.

On its surface a contest between Councilmen Ricky Burgess and William Peduto, it is also an opportunity for council to declare either a more collaborative approach to the mayor's office or a more independent stance. The last two years have seen the city's nine lawmakers swing wildly between those poles.

With a week left before two new members are sworn in and a president is picked, the post could still easily go to some other member.

Which is true. While it looks as though a deal's been struck, things could swing around. Perhaps if the details saw the light of day.

This is what I know so far:

A deal was struck between Ricky Burgess and Patrick Dowd on the one hand and Theresa Smith and Darlene Harris on the other to form a voting block. But what of the fifth vote?

Enter Representative Jake Wheatley. In a deal orchestrated by Mayor Ravenstahl and Representative Wheatley, Theresa Smith would get the City Council Presidency, Patrick Dowd would step down as Finance Chair and in exchange for his vote (the all-important fifth) incoming member R. Daniel Lavelle would be named Finance Committee Chair - on his very first day on City Council. Has that ever happened in Pittsburgh history?

Smith would be elected president with 8 months experience on Council. Has that ever happened in Pittsburgh history?

I was told that the deal was struck in mid-December at this meeting described by Rich Lord:

A similar tango occurred Dec. 17, when Mr. Burgess, Ms. Smith, Ms. Harris, Patrick Dowd and departing members Jim Motznik and Tonya Payne shuffled in and out of the mayor's office, talking about the since-killed tuition tax and the presidency.

Participants in those meetings said that if Mr. Peduto wins, he has pledged to give the high-profile post of finance chair to Mr. Kraus. Mr. Burgess is said to have promised that job to Mr. Dowd.

The choice of one or the other -- or neither of the above -- may be made by incoming member R. Daniel Lavelle. Members agreed that he's a likely swing vote, being wooed by both sides.

It was at this time that Wheatley and Ravenstahl struck the deal for the fifth vote. Read between the lines here:

When Tonya Payne wanted help during her four just-ended years on Pittsburgh City Council, she turned to her friend Luke Ravenstahl.

"The biggest thing that I had in my arsenal was: Luke Ravenstahl became the mayor," she said in an interview.

Now, as she embarks on a bid for a state House seat, she's doubtful that she can pull that arrow from the quiver again. This time, the mayor needs support in Harrisburg and in Council Chamber that can only come from her foes, Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Hill District, and incoming Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle.

And a few paragraphs later:

Now Mr. Lavelle is believed to be a pivotal player in Monday's vote for the council presidency, courted by mayor-friendly and mayor-skeptical factions. Mr. Wheatley could be key to Mr. Ravenstahl's hopes of getting state help next year with the city's fiscal problems. And Ms. Payne has a seat on the powerful Urban Redevelopment Authority board, but needs a job.

"Tonya has always been a great supporter of mine, and I'm thankful for her leadership on council and her friendship," said Mr. Ravenstahl. "But we haven't had a discussion, despite some of the reports that are out there, about a job, or [campaign] support. ... I'm sure we will."

So Lavelle votes with Burgess and Dowd and gets finance chair, Luke gets a far more friendly City Council and more friends in Harrisburg.

And Patrick Dowd? He gets the satisfaction (as I was told) of beating Bill Peduto and Doug Shields.

And that's all I heard.

UPDATE: From Super Bob's blog:

Patrick Dowd confirms he now backs Smith for Council President. Says they need someone who can work together with others and reach across divides. Says Smith has shown that capacity and will serve them well, moving forward.

Interesting...

UPDATE: From Chris Potter:

I'm going to suggest -- just for a second -- that we put aside the questions of who supports the mayor and who doesn't. Let's just analyze whether council will be led by people who know what the hell they are doing.

Like I said last week, I think Kail Smith's handling of the tuition tax could betoken a promising future. If she were being chosen as a compromise candidate -- if Ravenstahl hadn't just pulled his prevailing wage stunt -- there'd be reason to see a silver lining in her presidency. In such circumstances, she'd likely have a steady hand at her side -- Peduto serving as finance chair, for example. She'd have the benefit of experience, but without being laden with all the baggage.

But so far, at least, that ain't what's happening. Instead, the two city legislators with the most experience seem likely to end up with the least amount of power.

That is a surefire recipe for a weak, ineffectual council -- however well intentioned Kail-Smith or anyone else might be. Like I said last week, if council's choice isn't Peduto, "what other choice is there if council wants to be taken seriously?" I'm still not sure. But the choice definitely isn't a president and finance chair with less than a year's experience between them. That makes council a joke -- which of course would suit the mayor's agenda perfectly. It suggests council doesn't even take itself seriously -- so why should anyone else?

Again, though, things can change between now and council's meeting.

Anything can happen.