I believe this season to be the most critical time in Pittsburgh's history. During this campaign, we have often heard Mayor Luke Ravenstahl tell a tale about our city, but in reality the tale is of two cities.

In Mr. Ravenstahl's version, only the most-livable aspects of our city are mentioned. He doesn't talk about our distressed and blighted neighborhoods, the neighborhoods he promised to serve two years ago.

He tells of a city that he says needs more gun control but for which he has not provided legislation supporting after-school programs or community-center investment.

He tells of a city whose crime rate is down as if it is safe, while failing to acknowledge the rising number of homicides. Mr. Ravenstahl signed an order launching a curfew center without understanding why the last such center failed.

He tells of a city that has made a promise of higher education to its students, but he has done nothing to ensure that every student in the city has the basic skills necessary to meet that promise.

He touts a $100 million surplus but does not provide a realistic solution for our city's pension problems or for the looming deficits that will appear in the near future.

Mr. Ravenstahl has promised change, but the only change we have seen is from his promise as a potentially great leader to his becoming a puppet of special interests.

Only when we elect a leader who is not tied to special interests and pay-for-play politics can we write a tale of one city -- one city united by our common and unwavering struggle to provide for our families, live in a safe community, have a top-tier school system and know that we are being served by a government that we can trust and respect.

When we have the courage to say no to "the machine" and think for ourselves, then and only then will Pittsburgh be what it is meant to be.

I am the candidate for mayor this year who is most capable of bringing to this city honest, sincere and necessary change. My opponents are a mirror image of each other, just on different scales.

I am a hard-working yet humble attorney, neither a career politician nor a puppet with ties to any political power brokers.

I am independent-minded and prepared to honor the critical position of mayor by fulfilling these obligations to you, the people with the courage to elect me.