Mt. Washington resident and Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb officially announced his plans to run for mayor Wednesday morning calling for more accountability and transparency.
Lamb announced his mayoral bid at a small Brookline café Wednesday morning. He will be competing against incumbent mayor Luke Ravenstahl and East End city Councilman, Bill Peduto. Former Pennsylvania Auditor General, Jack Wagner, and others have also been rumored to be considering a run for mayor.
Lamb said he wants to be Pittsburgh’s mayor because of his love for the city. During his kickoff event he placed emphasis on city accountability and transparency.
“For the last 5 years as city controller I’ve had the opportunity to be in every city department and everywhere I go I see the same thing: missed opportunity,” Lamb said. “Now, there are a lot of reasons for that and a lot of excuses and maybe a lot of blame for why that is, but there’s really only one cause.”
Lamb says those opportunities were lost because the leadership in the city of Pittsburgh failed. A leadership role is something Lamb said he’s willing to tackle.
“I have a record of accomplishment in public service, I have a reputation that I’ve earned for hard work and integrity,” Lamb said. “I feel very good about where I am.”
Lamb attributes that feeling to competing against an “absentee mayor,” and “a councilman who talks a lot but hasn’t accomplished very much.” He added he expects challenges and roadblocks in the race, but said he’ll face them and find a way through them.
Lamb didn’t disclose how much money he’s raised for the campaign, but said it was enough to communicate and build supporters effectively. The campaign will have to file a financial report by the end of the month.
