Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl remains in a commanding position in the race for campaign dollars going into the May 19 Democratic primary, raising $325,898 through May 4 of this year, spending $661,996, and reporting $480,475 in the bank.

His best-financed rival, Councilman Patrick Dowd raised $74,445 through May 4, and spent $32,816, leaving $44,345. Mr. Dowd's biggest donors were the family of Reed Smith lawyer Daniel Booker donating $10,000, and William Benter of Acusis Medical Transcription giving $5,000 -- the same amount he gave to Mr. Ravenstahl's campaign.

Mr. Ravenstahl's top donors were the Western Pennsylvania Laborers Political Action Committee and Chicago developer Stephen Beemsterboer, who has proposed a hotel complex on Mt. Washington, at $10,000 each. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato's political committee loaned the mayor's campaign $150,000.

The mayor's biggest expense was $85,000 for TV ads.

Carmen Robinson, a Hill District attorney who is also challenging the mayor, did not file a report with the Allegheny County Elections Division. They were due today for candidates that spent more than $250.

In a hotly contested Pittsburgh City Council race in the South Hills, Natalia Rudiak of Carrick raised $43,061, on top of $12,033 left over from last year, and had $20,773 left. The Service Employees International Union Political Action Committee gave her campaign $6,500, and the Western Pennsylvania Laborers PAC gave $5,000.

Another contender in that race, Anthony Coghill, raised $25,088 and spent $11,171, leaving $13,917. His top donor was Lisa R. Orlando, his campaign treasurer, giving $8,000, while the Chester Engineers PAC gave $1,000.

The endorsed Democrat in that race, Patrick Reilly, raised $21,658 and spent $19,742, leaving $1,916 in the bank. His biggest donors were Kevin Kilkeary of Prospera Hospitality, giving $3,800, and the Scimedica Group, a Conshohocken-based partnership, at $1,500.

In her defense of the West Pittsburgh city council seat she won in a February special election, Theresa Smith raised $8,915 since Feb. 14, and spent most of it, leaving $1,271. The Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers PAC gave her campaign $1,000, and two Teamsters locals gave a total of $1,000.

She was out-raised by rival Georgia Blotzer, who brought in $9,740 on top of the $5,383 she had left over from the special election, and spent $7,627, leaving $7,496. Her top donors were Margaret Bosley, whose employer was not listed, and Georgia Berner, of Berner International, both at $500.

A third candidate, Robert Frank, raised $500.

Also defending a council seat is Tonya Payne, of the Hill District, who reported raising $38,829, spending almost as much, and having $25,439 on hand. The Teamsters' Drive PAC gave her campaign $5,000.

One of her challengers, Daniel Lavelle, raised $12,038, spent $7,881, and had $4,156 left. Retiree Justin Johnson gave $1,000, and former Councilman Sala Udin, who Ms. Payne ousted, was among several $500 donors.

The third candidate in that primary, Mark Brentley, did not file a report.

Mr. Onorato, expected to run for governor next year, raised $450,352 this year through May 4, and reported having a war chest of $4.1 million. His top donor was the Laborers District Council PAC of Philadelphia, giving $75,000.