More Philadelphia Union Thuggery?

I can't believe a union kingpin would be involved in something illegal . . .

Christian DiCicco, a candidate for the Pennsylvania state House, said yesterday that his South Philadelphia campaign office was burglarized and cast blame on electricians union leader John Dougherty, who is supporting DiCicco's opponent.

Dougherty - a candidate for state Senate in next month's primary - denied any involvement and said he was not aware of any involvement by State Rep. Bill Keller, the Democratic incumbent facing DiCicco in the primary race for the 184th District.

Campaign staff for DiCicco, the son of City Councilman Frank DiCicco, told police they walked into their office at 1616 E. Passyunk Ave. yesterday morning and discovered a couch and 10 pictures slashed with a razor or other sharp-edged tool.

Missing were a camera, some policy papers and internal poll data.

"It looks to be an attempt to intimidate the campaign," DiCicco campaign manager Dave Mallet said. "We are not pointing any fingers, but there has been a lot of threatening language to our campaign."

Mallet was referring to e-mails he and other campaign staff have received from the Dougherty camp. The 184th District race is viewed as the latest battle between Dougherty, who supports Keller, and State Sen. Vincent Fumo, a DiCicco ally who is vacating the seat that Dougherty is pursuing. (H/T - The Philadelphia Inquirer)

For those of you not in the know, John Dougherty is the head of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 98. He and his union thugs have been linked to multiple federal corruption investigations, and his close political friends include uber-corrupt former mayor John Street and former city councilman Rick Mariano, now serving time in prison for bribery.

"Johnny Doc" embodies everything that is wrong with unions in Philadelphia - a town quickly becoming the face of political corruption in America. I doubt anyone can prove Dougherty and his goons were involved with this burglary, but I wouldn't put it past them.