Dougherty answers the question of 'why'

By Don Brennan
Editor of the News Gleaner

For the 200 or so gathered Wednesday night inside Williamson's Restaurant in the GSB Building at City Line and Belmont aves. as well as for the voters of the Third Congressional District Charlie Dougherty answered the question of why.

Why would this former twoterm Republican congressman try for a third time to recapture the seat he lost 16 years ago to U.S. Rep. Bob Borski?

Because all of us have a duty to remember, a duty to care, and a duty to lead, Dougherty told his supporters at the campaign's official kickoff. And the guy we're running against . . . is someone who simply doesn't lead.

Dougherty's run marks the third headtohead battle against Borski, a former 175th District state representative who won the seat in 1982 by about 2,600 votes, a kept by racking up relatively easy wins every two years.

Dougherty will run unopposed in the May 19 primary. Borski will be opposed by SEPTA driver John Kates. The Libertarian Party of Philadelphia also may slate a candidate.

Dougherty, a former state senator, last attempted to take back the seat in 1992. According to Alex Ray of Chesapeake Media, a Marylandbased consulting firm which has been hired to work on the campaign, a poll that August showed Dougherty running about 9 percentage points ahead of Borski.

However, Ray said, Borski spent over $400,000 mostly on radio and television advertising from August to Election Day, and Dougherty was soundly defeated.

We'll be in a position this year, Ray predicted, so that will not happen again.

Dougherty is banking on two things in his bid to upset Borski. One, voters are dissatisfied enough with the congressman over issues like Section 8 housing and school choice that they'll vote against him, and, two, that he will raise enough money so that the National Republican Congressional Committee will then contribute a substantial amount.

According to a GOP consultant, it will take about $800,000 to seriously challenge Borski. Although Ray would not comment on the exact figure, We have a commitment from the NRCC to come in with some big money.

Last Wednesday's festivities stumbled at the starting line. First, U.S. Rep. John Linder of Georgia, who chairs the NRCC, could not attend because of congressional duties. Then, Dougherty's speech suddenly disappeared, prompting a series of light hearted exchanges with members of his staff.

Dougherty quickly recovered, however, and delivered an emotional address that outlined the themes of his campaign many of the same themes he has been campaigning on for the last 25 years: a commitment to education, neighborhood stability, a strong U.S. global prescence, and the rights of the unborn.

He was introduced by State Rep. John M. Perzel (R172), House Majority Leader, who described Borski as the most lackluster congressman in the history of the city of Philadelphia.

With all of my heart and all of my soul, I am going to be fighting to knock Congressman Borski out of office and put Charlie Dougherty back where he belongs, Perzel said to the cheering crowd.

Besides Perzel, a number of other Republican officials were on hand, including State Treasurer Barbara Hafer, city GOP chairman Vito Canuso, GOP general counsel Michael Meehan, and City Commissioner Joseph Duda.

In the 1992 election, an independent candidate was backed by the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters. What will happen this year?

A spokesperson said the union will not support Borski, who they contend sold out his constituents for railroad support, but would not rule out at least considering Dougherty's candidacy.

Dougherty and the Teamsters have been at odds over Dougherty' s characterization of the Northern Irish Aid Committee as a front for the Irish Republican Army.

At this time, the spokesperson said, we're not sure what we're going to do.