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Kevin Acklin (born May 22, 1976), a lawyer and community activist, is the Independent candidate for Mayor of the city of Pittsburgh. He was born in South Oakland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

On May 17, 2009, Acklin officially filed as an Independent candidate for mayor.^[1] On June 3, 2009, Acklin kicked-off his campaign with a rally at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, declaring himself a "Pittsburgher first" who would unite "that silent majority that wants to see better leadership in the mayor's office."^[2]

Acklin founded and serves as Executive Director of RenewPittsburgh, an all-volunteer organization that works with community leaders and residents to promote the revitalization of his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[3] He holds a bachelor’s degree in Government from Harvard University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.

After working for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and practicing law in Boston, Acklin returned home to Pittsburgh to live and to raise his family.^[4] He works as a Business and Finance attorney with the law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.^[5] Acklin is active in Pittsburgh's non-profit community, and he also organizes pro bono volunteer legal services for victims of domestic violence, green technology companies, and community groups.^[6]

On March 10, 2009, Acklin announced that he had changed his political registration to Independent and had begun a two-month exploratory process to consider running for Mayor of Pittsburgh in the city's general election, to be held November 3, 2009.^[7]

[edit] References

1. ^ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette", May 19, 2007
2. ^ "Independent Running for Pittsburgh Mayor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 4, 2009"
3. ^ "Grassroots renewal initiative attains political goal", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 3, 2008
4. ^ "Acklin at Large, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 27, 2007"
5. ^ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius Bio Page
6. ^ Pittsburgh Magazine, "40 Under 40"
7. ^ "Squirrel Hill community activist may run for mayor", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 11, 2009