Karen Waight, of Beechview, got a call Monday night, and when she heard the caller's pitch, she "went off on the guy," she said yesterday.

It wasn't a telemarketer, but rather a phone bank worker for Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, endorsing Anthony Coghill in the South Hills District 4 City Council race.

For Ms. Waight, an Allegheny County Democratic Committee member for 15 years, that's heresy, because while the mayor is endorsed by the committee, Mr. Coghill is not.

"I said [to the caller], 'I'd like you to give Mr. Ravenstahl a message that I don't appreciate him supporting a non-endorsed candidate,' " she said. "Where's the loyalty to the Democratic Party?"

That's a perennial question in a town where the endorsement of the ruling party has seemed to carry less weight every election. Having the man at the top of the ticket working publicly against a guy lower down the slate, though, is unusual.

Patrick Reilly won the committee endorsement by a 46-40 vote over Mr. Coghill, with Natalia Rudiak a distant third and Richard Weaver not competing. All four remain in the May 19 Democratic primary to replace Jim Motznik, who is running for district judge.

Mr. Reilly, of Overbrook, said he initiated a meeting with Mr. Ravenstahl two weeks ago "so I could tell him that I was looking forward to working with the mayor's office once I was elected to City Council. I'm very proud that the Democratic Party endorsed me, and I reached out to the mayor's office as one endorsed candidate to another."

He said the meeting was very cordial. "I don't know what's changed in two weeks," he said.

Nothing changed, said Mr. Ravenstahl. "I just said that if he's fortunate enough to win, we'd be glad to sit down with him."

Mr. Coghill, the mayor added, "would be a great ally of ours as we continue to grow the city," so he's backing him with calls.

"Behind the scenes, we've been working together for a long time," said Mr. Coghill, of Beechview.

Allegheny County Democratic Chairman Jim Burn said that, "In my opinion [endorsed candidates] should all support each other." But if they don't, there's no punishment, since the committee decided at a Feb. 7 meeting not to create a disciplinary process for those bucking the ticket.

"Will there be reprisals against Mr. Ravenstahl in the party because of this? It's very possible," said Mr. Burn. "They are at risk of alienating die-hard committee members" who hold the endorsement sacred.

Ms. Waight's a die-hard. She's also an employee of a business owned by the Wagner family -- the clan that includes state Auditor General Jack Wagner and 19th Ward Democratic Committee Chairman Pete Wagner. The Wagners are at odds with state Sen. Wayne Fontana, who has employed Mr. Coghill.

Mr. Coghill has Mr. Fontana's backing, along with that of Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and City Controller Michael Lamb. Unlike the mayor, none of those officials are on the ballot this year.

"I've known [Mr. Coghill] all my life," said Mr. Lamb. "I trust him."

Mr. Lamb ran for mayor against endorsed candidate Bob O'Connor in 2005, but said it's unusual for a mayor to openly back an unendorsed council candidate. Mr. Ravenstahl "is going to have some explaining to do to the Democratic Committee."

Asked why the endorsed Democratic candidate for mayor would endorse an unendorsed candidate, Mr. Coghill said the answer was obvious: His foes "cheated." HeMr. Coghill has sued the county Democratic Committee in Common Pleas Court to have the party endorsement overturned. He says because one vote was cast in proxy by someone not a member of the committee, in violation of party rules.

Judge Joseph James has yet to rule on the suit, but Mr. Coghill said the Democratic Committee, in response to his suit, agreed to strike one vote.

But that's not enough to change the endorsement.

Whether the mayor's backing will be decisive in an unpredictable South Hills race won't be known until May 19.

"Who wouldn't want a young, popular mayor showing his belief in someone?" asked Matt Hogue, a Democratic Committee member who manages Mr. Coghill's campaign.

Ms. Rudiak's campaign issued statements saying that "people aren't interested in talking about who is supporting whom, or any of the inside politics."

But she also added that said she's "concerned that there is a line being drawn in the sand before the next City Council member even takes office."