CITY HALL SAM: Doc’s On A Winning Streak

The usual throng of Local 98 working men showed up for the Grand Opening of ED NEILSON’S campaign office at Grant Plaza. But so did a number of VIPs. Mayoral hopeful COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN joined his colleague COUNCILMAN BOB HENON. Neilson served as political director of Local 98 before Henon. He went on to serve in high-ranking positions with the Rendell Administration in Harrisburg in both the Dept. of Labor & Industry and Dept. of General Services. Now he is back to try for the seat vacated by DENNY O’BRIEN, but O’Brien’s aide DAVE KRALLE seems ready to make a race of it. He is riding on the former Speaker’s reputation.

Also on hand were STATE SEN. MIKE STACK, CITY CONTROLLER ALAN BUTKOVITZ and STATE REPS. BRENDAN BOYLE and his brother KEVIN. There was also a positive mix of neighbors and kids who enjoyed soft pretzels and water ice. JOHN DOUGHERTY, the powerhouse leader of Local 98, shook hands and greeted well-wishers. Doc is on a winning streak. He delivered for his close friend Henon in a landslide. He’s also mending fences and building bridges. He is not currently at war with anyone.

CHAIRMAN BOB BRADY hosted a breakfast for legislators from Philadelphia running for election in November. Finance Chair FRANK OLIVER delivered the message that the legislators were expected to support the Democratic Party at a specific financial level. Those in attendance were STATE REPS. ROSITA YOUNGBLOOD, MIKE O’BRIEN and LOUISE BISHOP, to name a few.

PAT MURPHY may have a rougher road to the Democratic Nomination for Attorney General than first thoughts. KATHLEEN KANEis already running hard. The Scranton native is well funded. She is up on television and her ads show her to be tough, young and attractive. She’s got a substantial advantage over Pat Murphy in one area … experience. She’s prosecuted many cases and he hasn’t. He’s been in Congress, but never took the Pennsylvania Bar. There are also rumors he has problems in the African American community. He needs to shore up his support in Philadelphia if he is to win.

BACKING Ed Neilson For 169th House Dist. are City Controller Alan Butkovitz, IBEW Local 98 Business Mgr. John Dougherty, State Rep. Kevin Boyle, Councilman Bill Green, State Sen. Mike Stack, Neilson and Councilman Bobby Henon. Photo: McGlasson Media

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