Dougherty and the Council Race

Joe McColgan, an at-large Republican City Council candidate, picked up $5,000 from Local 98, the Philadelphia electricians' union run by John Dougherty, according to the most recent campaign-finance filing.

Dougherty is said to be backing Council candidates he believes will support Darrell Clarke for Council president. Dougherty and McColgan did not respond to requests for comment on the contribution or on the presidents' race.

Philadelphia Phuture, a Dougherty PAC with a phonetically phunny name, also paid for mailers this week attacking McColgan rival David Oh. Oh did not return a request for comment, but in the past, he has said he has not yet made a decison on the council president's race.

Bill Rubin, a Democrat hoping to beat Republican Brian O'Neill in Council's 10th district, got $10,000 recently from IBEW Local 351, which is based in Hammonton, NJ. Rubin said that local was not connected to Local 98.

Rubin said he has not yet decided which Council member he will support for president if he wins, though he will not vote for Marian Tasco, he said, because he wants someone with newer ideas. In addition to Tasco and Clarke, Councilman Jim Kenney is considered a possibility to lead Council in the next session.

Dougherty's PACs spent  tens of thousands on Council races in the May primary to back Democrats Mark Squilla, Bill Green and Bobby Henon, Local 98's political director. All three are expected to win in Tuesday's election.

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