Everyone complains about government, but too few people do anything about it, like vote. While the excuses are familiar -- nothing will change, all candidates are the same -- the results from 2008 argue against that.

Elections have consequences, even in years when the matchups aren't exciting. That's why the minority of registered voters who go to the polls Tuesday will exercise inordinate power and choice over those who will stay at home.

Across Pennsylvania, voters will choose new judges for three appellate courts and for Common Pleas courts in individual counties. In the city of Pittsburgh people will elect a mayor to a four-year term and in Allegheny County voters in two districts will choose members of County Council.

While other, unopposed candidates will appear on the ballot for City Council, County Council and Pittsburgh school board, smaller municipalities and school districts will feature hundreds of contested races for positions at the local level.

In the last two weeks the Post-Gazette has published endorsements of candidates in key contested races in Allegheny County, in statewide judicial battles and in judicial retention elections. Here is a recap of those recommendations.

Pittsburgh Mayor

Since the death of his predecessor, Luke Ravenstahl has been mayor for three years and this is his third election (one Democratic primary and two generals) to keep the job. The opposition was more formidable in the previous campaigns, and the Post-Gazette did not see fit to back the mayor.

But Mr. Ravenstahl has grown in the job and is more capable than the two independents he faces on Tuesday. Despite some ethical missteps in the beginning, a yet-undefined vision for the city's future and a political pedigree too rooted to the party machine, the incumbent and his staff have been responsible stewards of the city.

The administration has been fiscally conservative, creative on fixing the pension fund and supportive of city-county consolidation. The mayor has gotten tough on neglectful landlords, ordered cleanups of ratty neighborhoods, fought suburban flight with the Pittsburgh Promise and promoted the city's "green" culture.

This mayor may be a work in progress, but he's the obvious choice on Nov. 3.

Supreme Court

Both candidates for the vacancy on the state's highest court have dirtied themselves with vicious campaign ads in recent weeks. But that hasn't made us budge from our endorsement of Joan Orie Melvin, a Republican, for the bench. The Marshall resident, like her Democratic opponent, is a well-regarded judge on state Superior Court. In an admittedly close call for us, her election would enhance Western Pennsylvania's presence on the court and give women two of the seven seats on a bench that has been too male for too long.

Superior Court

Nine candidates are vying for four seats on the state's hardest-working court, based on sheer volume of cases. The best of the lot are Democrats Anne E. Lazarus and Teresa Sarmina, both of Philadelphia, and Robert J. Colville of Ross, plus Republican Temp Smith of Mt. Lebanon. Ms. Lazarus, Ms. Sarmina and Mr. Colville are already Common Pleas Court judges.

Commonwealth Court

This is the statewide court that specializes in cases involving municipalities, regulatory agencies, the state, taxes, insurance, utilities, land use, labor practices and worker's compensation. Two attorneys with considerable experience in the field are the best of four candidates on the ballot: Republican Kevin Brobson of Middle Paxton, near Harrisburg, and Democrat Linda Judson of Squirrel Hill.

Common Pleas Court

In Allegheny County voters will elect five judges from a seven-person field. The best are Susan Evashavik DiLucente, Phil Ignelzi, Arnie Klein, Joe Williams and Alex Bicket. Ms. DiLucente, Mr. Ignelzi and Mr. Klein won the Democratic and Republican nominations, given the ability under state law to cross-file. Mr. Williams, who is already on the bench after he was appointed to fill a vacancy, is a Democratic nominee and Mr. Bicket won a Republican nod.

Judicial retention

In Pennsylvania judges go before the voters after serving the court for 10 years. It's up to the people to decide whether they deserve another term. The Post-Gazette recommends a Yes vote to keep these judges:

• Superior Court

Kate Ford Elliott

• Commonwealth Court

Dan Pellegrini

• Allegheny County Common Pleas

Kim Berkeley Clark

Robert J. Colville

Kim D. Eaton

Paul F. Lutty Jr.

Jeffrey A. Manning

Kevin G. Sasinoski

Gene Strassburger

Allegheny County Council

In District 1, residents would be well served by challenger Thomas R. Michalow and in District 4 incumbent Michael J. Finnerty is worth keeping. Both are Democrats.

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