'Synergy' in future for Kenney, Kevin Dougherty

Jim Kenney and Kevin Dougherty grew up in the same South Philadelphia neighborhood, two kids from the block in Whitman who crafted careers in public service.

The city councilman and Common Pleas Court judge are now aiming higher. And their ambitions align in a way that stands to benefit them both.

Kenney, 56, resigned Thursday from his sixth term on Council and is now preparing a campaign for mayor.

Dougherty, 52, is expected to announce in three weeks his bid for one of three openings on the state Supreme Court.

They will appear on the same May 19 Democratic primary ballot.

They also share the support of John Dougherty, 54 - Kevin's brother and the leader of politically powerful Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

A marketing expert would toss around the word synergy at this point in the story.

Kevin Dougherty, elected to the court in 2001, was elevated to administrative judge in October. Soon after that, Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin mistakenly referred to him as "Justice Dougherty" during the dedication of the new Family Court building.

The audience, aware of Dougherty's ambitions, tittered.

Philadelphia's race for mayor is expected to boost voter turnout in the primary, giving a judge from the city an edge in a statewide race for Pennsylvania's highest court.

But the Democratic field was slow to jell, as candidates entered and left the race. It was looking fairly dull until John Dougherty last week suggested Kenney, who had vacillated about leaving Council, as a "dark horse" candidate.

Kenney's bid will likely increase voter interest in the Democratic primary.

The declared mayoral candidates are State Sen. Anthony H. Williams, former District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham, and former Common Pleas Judge Nelson Diaz.

Former PGW spokesman Doug Oliver plans to join the race next week. Former State Sen. T. Milton Street Sr. is another possible candidate.

Kenney acknowledged that his campaign for mayor would benefit Kevin Dougherty.

"I know Kevin," Kenney said. "I have confidence in Kevin. If my candidacy helps him, I'm happy for it."

John Dougherty, who clashed with Kenney for years before making peace, agrees. He went to City Hall to watch Kenney's farewell speech Thursday.

"Will a competitive mayoral election help the turnout for Kevin?" Dougherty asked before answering, "Of course."

Still, Kenney said, the campaigns are not connected.

"My decision to do this has absolutely nothing to do with Kevin's desire to be a Supreme Court justice," Kenney said at City Hall.

John Dougherty, who said his brother would formally declare his candidacy in three weeks, said, "The campaigns will definitely be separate."

There is one likely connection: political consultant Ken Snyder, who worked for former Mayor John F. Street and former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo - for whom Kenney once worked and with whom "Johnny Doc" often clashed.

Snyder was working for Ken Trujillo, who quit the mayor's race last week. Some of Trujillo's top campaign staffers are expected to join Kenney's bid. Snyder has already been working for Kevin Dougherty.

"Other than Ken, there's nothing consistent between the two," John Dougherty said.

Kenney's new campaign staff is not the only part of his political infrastructure that appears ready-made. John Dougherty has been hosting monthly meetings of labor leaders who have been unhappy with the field of mayoral candidates.

He said they could fall in behind Kenney and possibly form an "independent expenditure" group. Such groups can spend unlimited amounts - above the city's campaign finance limits - to support candidates as long as they do not coordinate with them.

The May 19 ballot is a long way across time and politics for a group of kids who played on Burke Playground at Second and Jackson Streets. But they're all still very much in the game together.

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@byChrisBrennan