February 20, 2015
Union leader John Dougherty has been appointed to the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority board of directors by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Dougherty's spokesman, Frank Keel, confirmed the appointment Friday. He directed inquiries on further details to Wolf's press office, which did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Dougherty, the business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, is one of the most powerful union leaders in the city. The union gave $110,000 to Wolf's gubernatorial campaign last year. It also contributed another $44,388.09 in various in-kind donations.
The PRPA is an independent state agency that manages, maintains and promotes the publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. It also handles strategic planning in the port district.
The agency has an 11-member board of directors.
Dougherty also serves on the Delaware River Port Authority board, having been named the designee of Auditor General Eugene DePasquale last spring. He previously served on the 16-member board during Gov. Ed Rendell's administration.
The DRPA operates four toll bridges, the PATCO train line and a ferry linking Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Dougherty also is a former chairman of the city's Redevelopment Authority.
