Pittsburgh is settling in for a rather quiet Primary Election Day today, compared with two high-stakes poll dates dominated by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain last year.

This time, the biggest name is Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who is battling two fellow Democrats in his first try for a full four-year mayoral term. It is also the first step toward re-election for Mr. Ravensthal, 29, who won a two-year special term in 2006. He is up against Patrick Dowd, 41, a Highland Park councilman, and Carmen Robinson, 40, a Hill District lawyer.

There are, meanwhile, more than two dozen names on various judicial ballots, from the state Supreme Court down to Allegheny County Common Pleas, and loads of local school board, council, commissioner and supervisor positions outside the city. Municipal primaries like these attract the most hard-core voters -- among those registered, the county's elections division director, Mark Wolosik, expects 33 percent of Democrats and 23 percent of Republicans to show up.

All county offices other than the elections division will be closed for the day. City offices will be open, though City Council -- bracing for today's events and tomorrow's recuperation -- has moved its regular Tuesday and Wednesday meetings to Thursday. Garbage will be collected as usual.

Mr. Ravenstahl has campaigned on nuts-and-bolts city issues, talking about the city's redevelopment and environmental successes, and its needs to push educational and pension reforms. He has a 10 to 1 financing advantage over Mr. Dowd and has been spending like a candidate trying to pile up a convincing victory over his rivals.

Mr. Dowd was elected to council two years ago after serving one term on the city school board. His campaign has hammered the incumbent on pay-to-play contracts, expensive garbage cans and other alleged ethical lapses.

Ms. Robinson is a former Pittsburgh Police Bureau sergeant turned attorney who has also criticized the mayor, while calling for more investment and crime prevention in struggling city neighborhoods.

Mr. Ravenstahl is also making a write-in bid for the city's Republican nomination. No GOP candidate is on the ballot, but Squirrel Hill's Josh Wander is also trying a write-in as the GOP candidate. Those results likely won't be known for more than two weeks.

Two independents -- Kevin Acklin of Squirrel Hill and Franco Dok Harris of Shadyside -- have announced plans to run for mayor in the Nov. 3 general election.

Every member of Pittsburgh City Council is a Democrat. There are competitive races today for District 2 in the west, District 4 in the south and District 6 in the Hill District and parts of the North Side.

In other talked-about races, Braddock's high-profile mayor John Fetterman is up against challenger Jayme Cox, and former friends Michael Diven and Jim Motznik are facing off for a district judge seat in the South Hills.