Bill Peduto

William Mark Peduto (born October 30, 1964) is an American politician who was the 60th mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 2014 until 2022.

Peduto was born on October 30, 1964.

He graduated from Chartiers Valley High School in 1983.

After a year at Carnegie Mellon University, he transferred to Pennsylvania State University, pursuing a degree in political science and becoming president of the university's chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

He dropped out before completing the degree requirements.

In 1996 Peduto was Cohen's campaign manager in a challenge to former U.S. Representative Bill Coyne in the Democratic primary.

Peduto is reported to have urged Cohen to accuse Coyne of complacency in obtaining federal funding and other resources for the Pittsburgh area.

Cohen lost by a wide margin, which some pundits attributed to voter dislike of his negative advertising.

Peduto was elected to the council in 2001 and served from 2002 to 2014.

During that time, he ran for mayor three times.

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.

He was a Democratic member of the Pittsburgh City Council from 2002 to 2014.

Before his election to the city council, Peduto attended Pennsylvania State University, from which he took a leave of absence before completing his degree.

He ran a consulting business and later served as chief of staff to his predecessor on the city council, Dan Cohen.

After being elected to a four-year term, he assumed office in January 2002.

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.

In 2005, he lost the Democratic primary to Bob O'Connor, who became mayor in 2006.

He was reelected in 2005 and 2009.

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."

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.

Peduto again ran in a 2007 special election following O'Connor's death, but dropped out before the primary.

In 2007, Peduto returned to finish his degree requirements and became the only member of the nine-member Pittsburgh City Council at the time with a bachelor's degree.

Later, Peduto received a master's degree in public policy and management from the University of Pittsburgh.

Peduto operated a political consulting business and served as general consultant, campaign manager, finance director and other roles for several Democratic candidates and elected officials.

At 28, he served as a political director for then Acting Governor Mark Singel.

He also worked in Washington, D.C. as an intern to then U.S. Representative George Gekas.

Before holding a seat on the city council, Peduto served as chief of staff to former City Councilman Dan Cohen.

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.

Peduto faced criticism for this decision from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial board, which accused him of "political cowardice."

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.

He ran for mayor for a third time in 2013, winning the Democratic nomination and the general election with 84% of the vote over Joshua Wander and Lester Ludwig.

He was inaugurated in January 2014.

In the 2017 election, he ran unopposed and was reelected with 96% of the vote.

He ran for a third term in May 2021, but lost the Democratic primary to Ed Gainey.

Peduto's second term in office ended in January 2022.