Independent mayoral candidate Franco Dok Harris denied allegations today that he is ineligible to run for the office.

The city charter requires all candidates for mayor to live in the city for at least three years. Mr. Harris showed reporters apartment leases going back to 2005, when he was a graduate student at Pitt and CMU.

"It's funny that these [allegations] did not come out during the original challenge period. Most likely they would have been laughed out of court," Mr. Harris said.

Mr. Harris was referring to a court challenge of his election petition that was thrown out this summer.

Mr. Harris and fellow independent Kevin Acklin are running against incumbent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in the Nov. 3 election. A debate is being taped this afternoon at the KDKA-TV studios. It is scheduled to be aired at noon tomorrow.

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