heavy resistance with lawsuits being threatened, until the city decided to not enforce the laws they passed. Peduto's tenure also included record investments in Pittsburgh's parks system. He successfully pushed for the passage of a local parks tax referendum to support capital projects. Between 2019 and 2020, Peduto announced steps to turn around Pittsburgh's long-troubled Water and Sewer Authority. After making leadership changes and major investments, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority announced its lowest lead levels in 25 years. On August 18, 2020, Pittsburgh residents protesting police brutality demonstrated outside Peduto's home, staying until 10 am the next day, 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". The mayor's office later announced that Peduto would be at his home that evening to speak to protesters. Reelection campaigns Peduto announced on December 14, 2016, that he was running for reelection in 2017. 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. Peduto was reelected with approximately 96% of the ballots cast on November 7, 2017. In January 2021, Peduto formally announced his intention to seek a third term in the 2021 election. He lost the May Democratic primary to Ed Gainey. Post-mayoralty In April 2022, Carnegie Mellon University announced that Peduto would join the university’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy as a Distinguished Executive in Residence. His duties include serving as a guest lecturer and co-teaching a course; he will serve through March 2023. See also List of mayors of Pittsburgh City of Pittsburgh Government of Pittsburgh References External links Bill Peduto for Mayor |- 1964 births 21st-century American politicians Carnegie Mellon University trustees Living people Mayors of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Democrats Pennsylvania State University alumni Pittsburgh City Council members University of Pittsburgh alumni