Libertarian Party standard-bearer Mark Rauterkus said today that he will withdraw from the mayor's race and seek to pass his position on the ballot to Tony Oliva, 27, of Oakland.

Mr. Rauterkus said he will continue to run for city controller and council.

Mr. Oliva confirmed that he hopes to assume the ballot position Mr. Rauterkus petitioned to secure. He said he is a city public safety worker, but would not specify which branch. City public safety includes police, firefighters, paramedics and building inspectors.

"When I got out of the Army, I came back to Pittsburgh, and I saw a lot of taxes being levied on people and I didn't really agree with where it was being spent, and decided to try my hand at remedying that," he said, explaining his bid for mayor.

Democratic Mayor Luke Ravenstahl faces Republican Mark DeSantis and Socialist Workers Party candidate Ryan Scott, plus the Libertarian candidate, in the Nov. 6 election.