At Save Richmond Don Harrison has turned his attention and considerable ability stir the pot to the mayoral race in Richmond by posting a scathing look at the past of candidate Bill Pantele.

And the man who stands before us now — pontificating on the city’s “poor ethics” and touting the money he’s been given from “his friends” — was right in the center of all of the sleaze. While he was never formally charged with anything in the affair (something that has confused and befuddled city reporters for years), it was clear from this caught-in-the-act money-drop that Bill Pantele was being illegally placed into office for some specific reason — and it probably wasn’t his ability to “bring all Richmonders together.”

Click here to read Harrison’s entire post.

By the way, the deadline for candidates to submit their petitions to get on the ballot is today. Then those petitions will be scrutinized by the City Registrar. A few of the announced candidates may disappear in that process. But even with that prospect, the field of choices for this year’s election to replace Mayor Doug Wilder is going to range from soup to nuts.

And, don’t be surprised if blogs play a key role this year.