Unanimous honor for Johnny Doc?
A routine City Council resolution, honoring union leader John Dougherty as the grand marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade, puts one of Dougherty's political targets, Councilman David Oh, in an unusual position.
Put this news in the dog-bites-man category: City Council is about to honor John J. Dougherty, the leader of the city electrical workers union and the biggest fund-raiser in local politics, for his selection as grand marshal of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, scheduled for Sunday, March 11.
A Council resolution honoring Dougherty was introduced Thursday by Councilman Bobby Henon, the union's former political director, and Councilman Mark Squilla. Both enjoyed strong support from Dougherty and the union as they won their seats in last year's elections.
Dougherty is not the first grand marshal to be honored by Council, and he won't be the last. But the resolution puts at least one councilman in a curious position: How will David Oh vote after Dougherty spent tens of thousands of dollars on mailings and radio trying to derail Oh's bid for a Republican council-at-large seat?
The resolution is likely to come up for passage Thursday.