CORRECTION

A front-page story Tuesday incorrectly described campaign contributions received by Helen Tart, a candidate for an at-large seat on the Raleigh City Council. Tart has received donations from friends and supporters but not family members.

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Raleigh's debate over growth has gotten personal, with a City Council candidate fighting back against a fake blog that accuses her of selling out to the real estate community.

Mary-Ann Baldwin, who is running for one of two pivotal at-large seats on a closely divided council, had her attorney send a letter to Google on Friday asking it to take down a blog -- purportedly her own -- because it violated the company's profanity clause.

The blog included fake postings by "Mary Ann" beside actual pictures of Baldwin. One posting referred to the candidate as "Mary [expletive] Baldwin."

"It was totally misrepresenting me and what I stand for," Baldwin said. "This, I felt, was outside the standards of good taste."

The blog has since removed the profanity and the photos of Baldwin but continues to operate.

The blog could be reached from a link on the local politics Web site www.belowthebeltline.org, whose anonymous authors defended its tone. Belowthebeltline has been a frequent critic of what it views as the growing influence of "Big Real Estate" in Raleigh's affairs.

Baldwin, 51, the director of marketing for Stewart Engineering, is the best-financed candidate in the at-large race, having raised more than $58,000 so far. The at-large race is the city's most competitive, with six candidates running, and the outcome could tip the balance of power on the council.

The current City Council, which includes five members from districts, two elected at large and the mayor, has been closely divided about how to manage Raleigh's growth. A minority of three has favored raising fees on developers substantially to pay for new roads and parks.

A torrent of growth

The stakes are high for people on both sides of the debate. Over the next 20 years Raleigh is expected to grow by more than 70 percent, from 384,000 to 655,000.

To her online detractors, Baldwin is a target of ridicule and suspicion because of a donor list that includes many people with ties to real estate and development. Although the role of real estate money in local elections is not a new issue, it has become more prominent this year.

At recent forums, attendees have asked the at-large candidates whether they accepted money from real estate interests. Last week attendees at a forum in west Raleigh demanded that Baldwin answer the question, even though her group of candidates was supposed to answer a different question.

Baldwin is not the only at-large candidate who has received support from those in real estate and development. Incumbent Russ Stephenson and challenger Paul Anderson also have donors from the industry.

The three other candidates -- Helen Tart, David Williams and Will Best -- have received most of their campaign donations from relatives and supporters outside the real estate and development community.

A review of people who have given $500 or more to the campaigns of Baldwin, Stephenson and Anderson shows that Baldwin has received more than twice as much money as Stephenson from real estate interests, including architects, engineers and contractors.

Baldwin has received $18,000 out of her $58,725 total; Stephenson, $6,595 out of $41,908; and Anderson, $2,000 out of $13,700.

Baldwin describes her campaign as having a broad base of support. "I still feel I have a well-balanced portfolio," she said.

She said her real estate money comes from responsible developers who have a good track record.

"These are people who want the same things we all want -- quality development and environmental sensitivity," she said.

Baldwin also sees a double standard, because other Raleigh politicians have taken money from real estate interests but have not been questioned so sharply about their independence.

Meeker's money

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker is one of those officials Baldwin mentions.

"I attempt to raise money from friends and acquaintances," Meeker said Monday. "Some have connections to the real estate industry, some do not."

Meeker said he doesn't see anything wrong with taking some money from people in the industry.

Stephenson, one of the candidates being supported by www.belowthebeltline.org, said individuals contribute to campaigns for lots of reasons.

"The question that I ask myself is if the kinds of development they're doing is clearly in the public interest," said Stephenson.

Smedes York, a developer and former Raleigh mayor, said being in real estate doesn't mean you're not a good citizen.

"I think it's a natural thing to contribute to candidates," said York, who has given candidates money, including $500 to Baldwin. "The city is a series of developments, and I think we have a pretty great city."