Year: Senior
Major: History, on the Pre-Law track
Meet Scott Sauter, the newest candidate for mayor of Pittsburgh. As a Pitt student living in South Oakland, he knows what students and service industry workers not only want, but need. As he says in his stump speech, “If you want another politician to ‘represent’ you, then vote for my opponents, Mr. Peduto or Mr. Wander. But if you want someone who is you, then pencil me in for mayor this November!” I sat down with Scott to find out what he stands for, and why Pittsburgh voters should be paying attention.
HC: So, Scott, why the decision to run for mayor as an undergrad college student?
SS: A lot of people have been asking me that lately – my fellow students, service industry employees, and I have long been waiting for a local candidate that understands our needs and interests. This town has so many students and yet so few policies that directly benefit us. It has a rich history of proud, dedicated service industry employees, and yet we are all too often seemingly forgotten by our elected officials. It seemed that the time had come for a candidate who would not merely represent the working class and students of Steel Town, but someone who actually was one of them.
I was inspired to run myself after a conversation with a local political activist friend of mine, University Pre-Law Association President Bryant Nino, who has worked tirelessly in Oakland and surrounding communities for improvement. Through the Pre-Law Association and the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, he has been a local great force for good.
HC: What’s your platform, and what political party do you identify with?
SS: First and foremost, I would like to implement policy ensuring income tax-exemption status for all students who qualify for Financial Aid in Pittsburgh, regardless of their filings as a dependent of their parents. While many of us come from middle class families, we do not enjoy the luxury of having college paid for by our parents, or any income, for that matter, not generated through our own employment.
This hard fact forces myself and many, many fellow students of mine to take out loans with grotesquely high interest rates, work while in school to pay rent, live below the poverty line, and yet somehow still have our income taxed at nearly 20%. If our city government truly wants to help citizens in need, it should start with those who will be the future leaders of our city, not cripple us under undue, predatory taxation.
Secondly, access to healthy, affordable food in this city is nearly non-existent for many neighborhoods. Fellow Brackenridge Fellowship recipient, and friend of mine, Nikki Luke, spent her summer researching means of eradicating “food deserts” from Pittsburgh, which are neighborhoods without a single grocery store less than 2+ miles away. I would look forward to speaking with her further on the subject and implementing subsequent policy.
I am a registered Democrat running as an independent write-in candidate for mayor.
HC: How much support have you received from the Pitt and Oakland communities?
SS: The community support has been simply overwhelming since our first rally kicked off the campaign last month. Though the event was attended by mostly friends and family, many people have approached me on campus recently to let me know just how exciting it is to have a fellow Pitt student and former Sodexo, Inc. employee running up against the old political giants of this town. Their encouragement has truly been a blessing thus far.
HC: How do you stack up against candidates like Bill Peduto who have networks of people calling voters to secure their allegiance?
SS: I welcome the challenge, and am currently trying to reach out to both Mr. Peduto and Mr. Wander in hopes of securing a televised public debate between all of us.
HC: Any future campaign events in the works so voters can get to know you?
SS: My team and I are currently planning a series of rallies to take place in areas most representative of the spirit of our platform – college campuses and restaurants. Stay tuned for dates and locations via our Youtube page, which will be live this coming Monday.
Previous rally poster.
HC: Most importantly, where are the “Vote for Scott” campaign buttons?!
SS: I will take this point to shamelessly ask for any support from members of the community interested in further solidifying our campaign. Being a student does not leave as much over for financing a mayoral campaign as some would have you believe.
However, we are set to launch an online, viral campaign this coming week, which everyone on the team is very excited to unveil. It will be the centerpiece of the remainder of our campaign. New Politics, New Pittsburgh. Thank you so much for this opportunity, Kristen.
A lot of young people overlook politics on the local level, but as Pitt students we live in a growing American city and a lot of policies directly affect us, although many students don’t realize this. As students in this city with a myriad of universities, we have a huge voice. I encourage everyone to go out and cast your vote this November!
Photos supplied by Scott Sauter.