Pittsburgh Councilman Jim Motznik's blogging foray has reached a third and, presumably, final act.

The first act involved the ally of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl launching a blog to attack Councilman William Peduto and blogger John McIntire.

The second act saw Mr. Ravenstahl repudiate the blog, after which Mr. Motznik took it down.

Act III finds his original blog seized by some anonymous person calling himself or herself Notznik, preserving its original content but adding a disclaimer at the top and a presumably sarcastic tag line. That forced the real Mr. Motznik to launch a new blog to explain that he's no longer responsible for whatever appears on his old one.

Needless to say, the blogosphere is buzzing over their (briefly) fellow traveler's misadventures. A few good reads on the subject:

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat

The People's Republic of Pittsburgh

Tough Times for Controller Candidates

Word on the street is that candidates in the city's other race -- the scrum for the Pittsburgh City Controller's post -- are having a tough time raising money. That's in part because donors were tapped out by Democratic candidates in last year's races for state office, and partly because Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is scooping up most of the remaining available cash. Given that climate, having some early money may be key to winning the race.

That suggests that the early advantage in the May 15 Democratic primary sits with Michael Lamb, with Doug Shields in second. Here's what they started last year with, raised, spent, and then had in the bank on Dec. 31, according to campaign funding disclosures filed with the Allegheny County Elections Division Wednesday.

Michael Lamb, Allegheny County Prothonotary
Started with: $43,597
Raised: $32,980
Spent: $29,869
Finished with: $46,708
Biggest contributor(s): Pete DeFazio for Sheriff Committee - $3,000
Robert Lewis, president, Orbital Engineering - $3,000

Doug Shields, Pittsburgh Council President
Started with: $5,527
Raised: $35,275
Spent: $21,845
Finished with: $18,957
Biggest contributor(s): Todd Reidbord, developer, Walnut Capital Partners - $1,200

Mike Dawida, former Allegheny County commissioner
Started with: $11,089
Raised: $5,000
Spent: $4,132
Finished with: $11,957
Biggest contributor(s): John Rangos, retired - $5,000

Tony Pokora, Acting City Controller
Started with: 0
Raised: $15,105
Spent: $6,760
Finished with: $8,345
Biggest contributor(s): Lawrence Pokora - $2,500

Council Cash

In the City Council races, incumbent Len Bodack dominates the field. He raised $41,375 last year, and finished with $76,539 in the campaign coffers, versus $10,834 for his primary challenger, Pittsburgh Public Schools board member Patrick Dowd. Tom Fallon is also planning to run.

Councilwoman Darlene Harris had $11,817 in her campaign coffers at year's end, and it's unclear who will emerge as her main rival. Robin Rosemary Miller and Dave Schuilenburg have said they'll run.

Councilman Jeff Koch finished with $2,882 in the bank, and his likely foe, Bruce Kraus, didn't file an updated financial report.

A possible council challenger to Mr. Shields (who intends to run for controller and council) is school board member Theresa Colaizzi. She filed a report showing $2,850 in her campaign account at year's end.

And Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle, beset by nine declared challengers at the moment, has a modest $12,044 in the bank. Again, it's not clear who will emerge as her most credible and best-funded rival, but it's notable that she raised just $2,100 during what was, for her, a year of questions about her spending of city funds on consultants connected with her campaign and family.