Lamb says no to exec bid

City Controller Michael Lamb announced today that he will run for reelection this year -- and not run for Allegheny County Executive. That leaves county controller Mark Patrick Flaherty as the only major Democrat in the latter race, and perhaps county council president Rich Fitzgerald.

From a Lamb statement:

"I am running for reelection for Controller of the City of Pittsburgh
because many challenges lie ahead for our city, and there is much work
to be done," said City Controller Michael Lamb. "For example, despite
what appears to be a successful effort by City Council to avert the
takeover of the City's management of its pension fund by the
Commonwealth, we still have a long road ahead of us in reforming our
pension system."

The full statement is after the jump:

PITTSBURGH – Today, Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb announced his candidacy for reelection to the office of Controller of the City of Pittsburgh.

"I am running for reelection for Controller of the City of Pittsburgh because many challenges lie ahead for our city, and there is much work to be done," said City Controller Michael Lamb. "For example, despite what appears to be a successful effort by City Council to avert the takeover of the City's management of its pension fund by the Commonwealth, we still have a long road ahead of us in reforming our pension system."

During his first term as City Controller, Michael Lamb has worked to make the City Controller's Office more effective, and the City of Pittsburgh more efficient. Lamb has improved both the Fiscal and Performance audit functions of the Controller's office. Audits completed over the last three years have exposed waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars, and have led to improvements by City departments and authorities in the way they interact with taxpayers.

"If elected to a second term, I will continue to focus on transparency in government," said Lamb. "Crucial to this effort, is moving forward and implementing a new financial management system for the City. Partnering with Allegheny County on this effort will result in millions of dollars in savings for Pittsburgh taxpayers. We are at a critical juncture in the implementation of this system and I intend to see it through."

As City Controller, Michael Lamb has put a focus on transparency in government. Under his direction, the City Controller's office created Open Book Pittsburgh, a searchable database of city contracts and city elected official campaign contributions. Open Book Pittsburgh also has information on lobbyists that are registered as doing business with the City of Pittsburgh. Lamb also released the City's first Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), a brief summary of the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) that is intended to increase knowledge throughout the community of Pittsburgh's fiscal condition.

Michael Lamb is a leader that believes in cooperation among the City and its surrounding municipalities. He played a major role in the creation of CONNECT, the Congress of Neighboring Communities, an organization whose mission is to "coordinate the collective activities of the City of Pittsburgh and the 35 municipalities that share its border."

Michael Lamb was sworn in as Controller of the City of Pittsburgh on January 7, 2008. Lamb received his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law and is an attorney admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He holds a Master's Degree from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University, a Bachelor's Degree from Penn State University and is a graduate of the Local Government Academy.

Lamb is a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh. He and his wife Jill reside in the neighborhood of Mount Washington.