Democrat Sean Dougherty appears to have bested Republican Aizaz Gill in a race for state representative for northeast Philadelphia.
According to unofficial returns, Dougherty garnered 7,593 voters or 53.2 percent to Gill’s 6,527 votes or 46.18 percent.
Republicans saw an opportunity to flip Philadelphia’s 172nd, a seat that Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia) now holds. However, Boyle, who suffered various personal woes, lost the April primary to Sean Dougherty, the scion of a well-known Philadelphia political family. Dougherty’s dad is Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty, and his uncle is recently convicted labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty.
Dougherty is employed as a defense lawyer.
Gill, 31, the enthusiastic and community-minded president of the Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association, ran a vigorous campaign. Dougherty took to the airwaves early on and painted Gill in an unflattering fashion as someone who would vote against women’s right to an abortion.
While Philadelphia is a largely Democratic bastion, the northeast Philadelphia area is known for its independence and the 172nd District is adjacent to a solidly Republican district represented by Rep. Martina White (R).
It was clear from the television commercials the Dougherty campaign aired and the numerous yard signs that festooned northeast Philadelphia, that the Dougherty campaign had more funding and was better able to get its message out.
Dougherty ran on law and order and said he opposed Philadelphia’s soft-on-crime progressive District Attorney Larry Krasner.
“Now the work begins to bring home funding and legislation to benefit Northeast Philadelphia including funding our schools, protecting women’s reproductive rights, improving safety in the district, and increasing good-paying jobs,” Dougherty told DVJournal. “I owe this win to each and every person who voted for me, every volunteer who knocked doors with me, and my campaign staff.”
Democratic state Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-Philadelphia) is hoping voters will show up for him on Election Day, despite the fact that he didn’t show up in court as required by law.
As a result, the Philly Democrat is facing an outstanding warrant from the state of New Jersey for failure to pay his fines for traffic offenses and failure to appear in court.
Now Pennsylvania Republicans are running ads letting voters know about Dillon’s scofflaw ways.
“Jimmy Dillon doesn’t play by the same rules we do,” the ad says. “We need a change.”
Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee Communications Director Michael Straw told DVJournal, “No one is above the law, not even Jimmy Dillon.
“The citizens in Northeast Philly are good, honest, hard-working people. They certainly pay fines for their traffic violations, and their state senator should be playing by the same rules. Party bosses hand-picked Dillon in a last-minute backroom deal to replace his brother as a candidate in the special election. Now, the more we find out about Jimmy Dillon, the less there is to like.
“It really begs the question, what else don’t we know about him?” Straw added.
Dillon was handpicked by Democratic Party insiders to fill a vacancy in a 2022 special election when his brother Shawn Dillon was forced off the ballot due to legal challenges. Shawn Dillon failed to file documents required under the state’s ethics laws.
Dillon, 45, did not reply to requests for comment.
Dillon’s outstanding warrant dates from 2004 and is from Tuckahoe, N.J., Dennis Township Municipal Court Administrator Lauren Reddy verified that the warrant is valid and still outstanding. Reddy said it was for a speeding ticket and driving without a license.
“We feel it’s important that voters know the real Jimmy Dillon and that he doesn’t play by the rules as everyone else does in Northeast Philly,” said Straw. “No one else can refuse to pay fines or show up in court.”
Picozzi, 29, declined to comment on Dillon’s legal woes. But he did tell DVJournal he decided to run because Northeast Philadelphia is no longer the safe neighborhood he grew up in.
“I could ride my bike around as late as I wanted to, and my parents didn’t have to worry,” said Picozzi. “That’s not the childhood kids in the Northeast are having now. Violent crime has exploded up here.”
He noted there was just a triple shooting the other day at Bustleton Avenue and Tomlinson Road. And in March, eight Northeast High School students were shot at five points.
Asked what he would do if elected to the state Senate, Picozzi said he’d make sure the Philadelphia police got more funding and would be an engaged leader, working with the town watches to “make the neighborhood safer.”
Joe Picozzi campaigning
He’d also continue to fight to remove progressive District Attorney Larry Krasner.
“We’re going to really push to get him out of there,” said Picozzi. About Krasner seeking a third term, Picozzi said, “There’s no accountability there. These people get elected, do a terrible job, and they think, ‘Well, I’m a Democrat in Philly. I don’t have to worry. Why do I have to work? Why do I have to care?’”
“I’m running on three issues: public safety, public safety, public safety,” said Picozzi. He would also like to see more security cameras installed, and to start more summer programs for kids and “after school programs, vocational training programs, extracurricular activities, things to keep them motivated, connect them with good mentors and job opportunities.
“If a kid has a summer job, they’re far more likely to graduate high school,” said Picozzi.
When Picozzi was in high school, Councilman Brian O’Neill recommended him for the Youth Commission, where he learned about government. An Eagle Scout, Picozzi studied government at Georgetown, worked on Capitol Hill and was chief of staff for the Manhattan Institute, a think tank.
“I think we need new leadership with fresh ideas,” said Picozzi. “It doesn’t matter if people are Republicans, Democrats, Independents. If you don’t like the direction that things are heading in Northeast Philadelphia, just give me a chance.”
If control of the Pennsylvania House comes down to a single seat, could that seat by in the city of Philadelphia?
Republicans see an opportunity to flip Philadelphia’s 172nd, a seat that Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia) now holds. However, Boyle, who suffered various personal woes, lost the April primary to Sean Dougherty, the scion of a well-known Philadelphia political clan. His dad is Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty, and his uncle is recently-convicted labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty.
Aizaz Gill, 31, the enthusiastic and community-minded president of the Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association, is the Republican candidate.
Gill believes the northeast Philadelphia district could be a GOP pick up, noting Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) is in the adjacent district and the 172nd is represented on the city council by Republican Brian O’Neill.
Sean Dougherty
The son of immigrants, Gill says he’s “seen the American Dream firsthand.”
“I love my community and want to give back for everything it’s given me,” said Gill, a political consultant.
“I first started thinking about running, the thought crossed my mind, when back in December 2022, the House of Representatives had a vote to impeach [Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner]. And our representative, Kevin Boyle, did not vote yes or no. He took a political dive on this very important issue.”
The neighborhood has seen crime increase since Krasner, a progressive, took over as DA and “if you look at northeast Philadelphia, it is overwhelmingly against Krasner,” said Gill. I thought, ‘This guy can’t be bothered to represent us.’ Why do we continue voting this guy back in?”
“The epidemic of crime is the biggest issue facing the city,” said Gill. Krasner’s policies “have been a disaster. More than 500 homicides in 2021, more than 500 homicides in 2022, more than 400 in 2023.” Philadelphia has 1.5 million people to New York’s 8.26 million but “their homicide numbers are much lower.”
Krasner refused to pursue the death penalty against the man accused of killing Temple University Officer Chris Fitzgerald, which further incensed Gill.
“I would make it a priority to impeach Krasner and make our neighborhood safe again,” he said. Another disturbing recent act was Hamas-related graffiti vandalism on the World War I memorial.
“We were out there front and center helping to clean that off,” he said. Things like this “never used to happen in the Northeast.”
“He is a tough, hardworking guy,” said Wolfe. He knows that district. e went to St. Cecelia’s grade school and Father Judge High School. e’s been there his entire life since he immigrated here from Pakistan when he was 9 years old. Nobody is going to outwork Aizaz Gill… He’s raising money. e’s working hard.”
Sean Dougherty did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
“Dougherty is the handpicked candidate of the Democratic machine in Philadelphia and Harrisburg,” said Gill. He’s part of a political dynasty whose policies have gotten Philadelphia into this [situation] in the first place, right? And the Harrisburg bosses have already spent $300,000 on him. He’ll just be the next generation worried about acquiring power instead of helping people.”
“The city’s been controlled by Democrats for more than 72 years, including the Dougherty [family]. Some of his relatives were the ultimate political kingmakers.”
