Kenneth Elder's Blog

The View From Philly

Meehan returning $10K is the prudent move

GOP gubernatorial candidate Pat Meehan will return a $10,000 contribution received from the Ridley Park Republican Committee, The Inquirer reports.

The funds are being returned because the timing of the donation could lead people to believe that the contribution was a blatant pass-through. A pass-through occurs when a campaign contributor conceals their identity by passing money through another contributor, in this case the Ridley Park Republican Committee. Pass-throughs are illegal, but alas, difficult to prove.

The contributor is a major electrical worker’s union in Philadelphia, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98. Ridley Park Township records show that the I.B.E.W. contributed $15,000 to the Ridley Park organization on Dec. 5, while Meehan’s campaign received the $10,000 contribution from the Ridley Park Republican Committee on Dec. 6.

Meehan is well-known for having overseen a federal investigation of John Dougherty, who is the union’s leader and a powerful force in Philadelphia politics.

Virginia Davis, the Meehan campaign spokeswoman, told The Inquirer in a statement, “Upon learning in recent days of the timing of these contributions, we determined it would be simply prudent to return these funds.”

Dougherty said he didn’t know of the contributions to Meehan at the time. He said that the I.B.E.W. gave the $15,000 to the Ridley Park Republican Committee because it is a consistent supporter of union labor.

The I.B.E.W. is generally perceived throughout Philadelphia as being more supportive of Democratic candidates and Democratic policy. The Ridley Park Republican Committee, on the other hand, has close ties to the I.B.E.W. through Robert J. Boland, who was at one time a Local 98 organizer but no longer works for the union,

While there is no evidence that the contributions were, in fact, a pass-through, it is wise of Meehan to return the funds, thereby reinforcing his brand of the moral prosecutor who will weed corruption and pay-to-play politics out of Pennsylvania.