Dougherty to resign as redevelopment chair

A week after losing his state Senate race, labor leader John J. Dougherty announced plans to step down tomorrow as chairman of the city Redevelopment Authority. His term was not slated to end until early next year.

"I am resigning at this point in time because I believe I have accomplished all the goals I set for myself and have served the authority with distinction for eight productive years," Dougherty, business manager of electricians union Local 98, wrote to Mayor Nutter in a letter he hand-delivered to City Hall early yesterday.

In later interviews, Dougherty and Nutter disclosed some of the details of a conversation they had in January in which Dougherty acknowledged Nutter's desire to install his own agency chairman. Both men said Nutter did not directly request Dougherty's resignation.

"It's generally my view that the mayor should have maximum flexibility with regard to appointments to any boards and commissions, and he said he understood that," Nutter said.

At the same time, the mayor added that he understood the complexities of giving up a board seat amid a political campaign. He noted that he did not quit his own job as chair of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority until a month before last year's five-way Democratic mayoral primary.

Perhaps for that reason, Dougherty's letter seemed hardly surprising to Nutter - despite persistent rumors in political circles that Dougherty, who opposed Nutter's candidacy in the primary, was unwilling to leave his powerful post.

Dougherty, for his own part, said it had long been his intent to give up the chairmanship no matter what the outcome of the three-way race to succeed retiring State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo. "Win, lose or draw, I was going to step down. He knew when he needed it, he could have it," Dougherty said.

Nutter did not endorse anyone in the Senate race.

One of Philadelphia's political power brokers for the past decade, Dougherty has suffered a number of setbacks during the last several years.

In addition to losing last week's Senate race to lawyer Larry Farnese, Dougherty was forced out two years ago as treasurer of the city Democratic Party. And in last year's mayoral primary, he gambled the considerable muscle - and money - of his union to back the unsuccessful candidacy of Tom Knox.

"Anyone who believes that somehow the sun has set on Doc's ability as a major player in Philadelphia" is plain wrong, said longtime political observer Kevin Feeley. "He is just as active and influential as ever."

For one thing, Local 98's dues-paying members provide the union's political action committee with a seemingly endless source of funds to contribute to political candidates and causes.

"Johnny is an asset, he's a plus," said Democratic Party secretary Carol Ann Campbell, who backed Dougherty in his Senate election bid. "And whether he sees it or not, Michael [Nutter] needs him. . . .

"They ain't seen the end of Johnny Doc. He's a force to be reckoned with and they better realize that."

Dougherty was appointed to the chairmanship shortly after Mayor John F. Street took office in 2000. It was a reward for the loyalty the union leader had shown during Street's campaign.

The authority went on to play a critical role under Street. It was the main governmental vehicle for his key anti-blight program, the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative.

Using its eminent-domain power, the authority condemned thousands of parcels of property citywide, setting a course for neighborhood redevelopment. As the issuer of about $300 million in bonds, the authority also doled out legal work to its patrons.

In later years, though, Street and Dougherty were at loggerheads after Street reduced the authority's staff and influence by concentrating housing policy in other city agencies. The authority has 77 employees and an annual budget of $10.5 million.

Nutter has yet to focus much on his administration's housing initiatives, but he maintained yesterday that the authority would play an important role in his administration.

Asked when he would appoint a successor to Dougherty as well as fill an existing vacancy on the five-member board, Nutter said it would be as soon as possible.