Republican mayoral challenger Mark DeSantis today introduced a policy team whose most prominent member is former Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey.

Mr. DeSantis said his six policy committees, one of which has two chairpersons, have been in place for two months. "We've worked night and day to build a campaign organization that is capable of winning," he said. "We are working on ideas that will inspire everyone in government."

Mr. DeSantis pointed to a foot-high pile of reports on city functions that have been written over the years, then said there "is no vision" for a future of confidence in government, a better business climate, and fairer taxation.

He said the challenges of reviewing prior reports, getting updated information from the city, and carefully crafting policy have slowed the process of unveiling policy planks, but proposals will be coming soon.

"I've been writing legislation and writing policy of all kinds" for many years, said the government and business veteran. "And you don't take the souffle out of the oven before it's ready."

Two of the seven policy committee chairpersons live in the city, and three are Democrats.

Mr. Roddey, an Oakmont Republican, heads the committee on efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in government. "You really have to have every city department measured," he said. "Give yourself a report card, and put it on the Web."

Wilkinsburg Police Chief Ophelia Coleman, a Democrat living in Verona and a former city police detective, heads the public safety committee. "If crime is running rampant, no businesses will want to come," she said.

Lourdes Sanchez Ridge, an Upper St. Clair Republican, and Fred Massey, an East McKeesport Democrat, co-chair a committee on "bridging the cultural divide" that appears to be focused on diversity. Ms. Sanchez Ridge, an attorney, said Mr. Ravenstahl's appointments to boards that make key decisions have not been diverse enough. Mr. Massey is CEO of FamilyLinks, a social services agency. Jim Burnham, a Squirrel Hill Republican and Duquesne University business professor, chairs the committee on restoring confidence in leadership. Shanna Tellerman, the 26-year-old CEO of Sim Ops Studios and a South Side Democrat, heads a panel on economic development. Jim Stalder, an Upper St. Clair Republican and retired dean of the Duquesne University business school, leads a committee on fewer and fairer taxes.