Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb will not seek reelection

Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection next year.

“I think it is important to make this announcement now to give anyone considering a run for City Controller the time to make a thoughtful decision and mount a strong campaign,” he said, adding that he would make himself available to discuss the work of his office to anyone contemplating a run to replace him.

Lamb, of Mt. Washington, was first sworn in as controller in January 2008.

Lamb’s office said in a statement that his audits have since exposed waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars in city departments, created best practices for financing and made city government work better for its constituents.

He released more than 100 audits examining how taxpayer dollars are spent.

Lamb has vocally supported efforts to ensure the city’s nonprofits pay payments in lieu of taxes.

In 2010, rather than allowing the Comprehensive Municipal Pension Trust Fund to be taken over by the state and the city’s parking assets to be privatized, he crafted a plan to dedicate parking tax revenue to the pension fund.

He has recently supported plans to annex neighboring Wilkinsburg.

Lamb said he plans to finish his term assisting Mayor Ed Gainey’s ongoing transition, overseeing his office’s staff and working to help Democrats get elected to state and local office.

“I’ve been honored to serve the residents of Pittsburgh for 15 years, making the Controller’s office more effective in protecting taxpayer dollars,” Lamb said.

“We’ve been able to make local government more transparent and efficient by being an independent voice for Pittsburgh residents. We’ve also fought against the privatization of city assets to ensure taxpayer control.”

Lamb is an attorney who received his law degree from Duquesne University, a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree from Penn State. He did not say in his statement what his plans are after leaving office.