IAM # 23O5 DEPT.OF PUBLIC WORKS SCRANTON,PA

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

# 23O5 DEPT.OF PUBLIC WORKS SCRANTON,PA

DOHERTY WINS SECOND TERM

DOHERTY DOES IT BY CHRISTOPHER J. KELLY AND LYNNE SLACK SHEDLOCK STAFF WRITERS 11/09/2005Email to a friendPrinter-friendly A Scranton mayoral race that pitted neighbor against neighbor in what amounted to a referendum on Mayor Chris Doherty’s first term ended Tuesday with the incumbent handily defeating challenger Gary DiBileo, according to unofficial vote totals. Taking 55 percent of the vote, Mr. Doherty easily prevailed on his home turf in Green Ridge, winning by nearly 1,200 votes. Mr. DiBileo won his native West Scranton, but by just under 900 votes. “This victory is your victory,” Mr. Doherty said to a cheering crowd at the packed Green Ridge Club on Wyoming Avenue. “The people took control, and we decide what direction we’re going in.” Mr. Doherty said he made a choice to run a “positive, progressive” campaign. He characterized Mr. DiBileo’s campaign as negative, saying it would been “easy” to follow the challenger’s playbook. The DiBileo camp charged that it was Mr. Doherty’s campaign that played dirty, with help from The Times-Tribune, which endorsed the incumbent. “The Times was 100 percent for Doherty,” said Mary Ann Rosky, one of hundreds of disappointed DiBileo backers at Whistles on Franklin Avenue. “Gary didn’t have half a chance. The paper twisted his words and printed nothing but Doherty’s lies. If they were more fair and honest, things might have turned out very differently.” Thanking his family, supporters and campaign workers, Mr. DiBileo said the campaign was “a wonderful experience, one I’ll never forget.” He drew raucous cheers when he added: “I’d like to do it over again some day.” The candidates spent more than $1.1 million to win the $50,000 mayor’s job, with Mr. Doherty doing most of the spending. Mr. DiBileo, the City Council president, made points during televised meetings on the public access cable Channel 61. Regular speakers routinely attacked Mr. Doherty and his policies, often joined by Mr. DiBileo and Councilwoman Janet Evans. Mr. Doherty, meanwhile, urged residents to remain focused on the progress he’s made on economic development, improving city finances and park renovations. He pointed to construction downtown, such as the $16 million-plus Southern Union Co. building, and other developments like the Ice Box complex; the city’s first-ever bond rating allowing it to refinance debt and borrow additional money for city projects; and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in Nay Aug Park, Weston Field and other recreation facilities. Mr. DiBileo used many of the same points to portray his opponent as an out-of-control spender driving the city deeper into debt. He promised to eliminate frivolous spending and cut the city’s wage tax. Mr. DiBileo also hammered on crime, saying Mr. Doherty shouldn’t have eliminated police officers when crime statistics are up. He pledged to hire more officers with revenue from the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax, the so-called “job tax.” Many of Mr. DiBileo’s positions echoed those held by the municipal union officials who supported him, including his view on the city’s recovery plan that was overwhelmingly approved by voters two years ago. While Mr. DiBileo said he’d implement the plan, he also favored completing a public safety impact study before restructuring the police and fire departments. The plan eliminates the need for such studies, which Mr. Doherty holds are unnecessary because city officials already know the situation and were elected to make the decisions. News that might have affected the election came shortly before polls closed. Thomas F. Karam, Southern Union’s president and chief operating officer and a lifelong friend of Mr. Doherty’s, announced his resignation. Mr. Doherty said he did not know Mr. Karam was leaving until told by a reporter Tuesday night. Although Mr. Karam was a “great friend of Scranton,” Mr. Doherty remained optimistic about the city’s relationship with the new company. “We look forward to working with the new people,” he said. Asked if he thought news of Mr. Karam’s departure might have helped his campaign if it had been made public earlier, Mr. DiBileo shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said. “A lot of things are done for political timing, but I don’t have any regrets. We gave this 1,000 percent. We fought tooth and nail and we almost pulled it off.” John Keeler, a South Scranton resident and frequent target of DiBileo supporters, said the challenger’s campaign relied too much on tooth and nail. Mr. Doherty’s win made him feel “vindicated,” he said. “The high road prevailed. (Mr. Doherty’s) record really spoke for itself and the negativity failed.” Conceding the race had been tough, Mr. Doherty challenged supporters to concentrate on the road ahead. “We made a statement for our city,” he said. “We are now a region that only looks forward and never looks back. Now we celebrate. Tomorrow morning, we’re back to work.” Contact the writer: ckelly@timesshamrock.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Last modified: 5/16/2008