State Rep.-elect Sean Dougherty wants to help Philly police and make the 172nd House District safer

State Rep.-elect Sean Dougherty (D-Philadelphia) (Contributed photo)

Growing up in Northeast Philadelphia, Sean Dougherty always wanted to be a trial lawyer.

His first job after graduating from Temple University Law School in 2019 was law clerk for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. He later worked as a public defender in Philadelphia.

State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia) was slated to be the only Democratic candidate on the ballot for the 172nd House District, but after a video emerged of him threatening a bartender in February, Dougherty gathered enough petitions to make the ballot to challenge him.

Dougherty, son of state Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty and nephew of John Dougherty, who previously led IBEW Local 98 in Philadelphia, defeated Boyle, brother of U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd District), for the Democratic Party nomination.

The priorities page of Dougherty’s campaign website focuses on keeping communities safe, funding schools and teachers, increasing good-paying jobs, and protecting reproductive freedom.

Dougherty, who describes himself as a “neighborhood guy,” said he treated the campaign for the seat against Republican Aizaz Gill like it was a jury trial, adding you have to be the most prepared and outwork your opponent and “put it in the hands of the people.”

He defeated Gill by just under 500 votes, or slightly less than 2% to help Democrats maintain their one seat majority in the state House. It was the closest state House race this year in Pennsylvania.

Dougherty said his goal is to “not only maintain, but improve the quality of life,” in Northeast Philadelphia and address the public safety concerns that many in the district shared with him.

Northeast Philadelphia is also home to a section of the city where President-elect Donald Trump made gains from the previous election and has shifted to the right in recent years. Dougherty said he thinks people were “just tired of the same old, same old,” and that people in the district are willing to split their ticket to vote for the candidate they believe is best for them.

“It just shows you the diversity in the district, but also the education in the district,” Dougherty said. “People know who they’re voting for, and they have their particular reasons why.” 

Dougherty also emphasized that he will have no problem crossing the aisle in order to work on behalf of the district.

This interview was lightly edited for length and clarity.

Capital-Star: Tell us about the district and what makes it unique.

Dougherty: Northeast Philadelphia is different than other parts of the city. We’re a hard working class of individuals. A majority of the district are cops, firefighters, nurses, union workers. We do have a big immigrant population and southeastern population, but it’s a very diverse district, and it’s a district that voters are educated. They don’t necessarily vote party, they vote person, but they do their due diligence in their research and who they vote for.

Capital-Star: What’s the most pressing issue facing the district?

Dougherty: Crime and public safety, by far. 

Capital-Star: Can you expand upon that?

Dougherty: Just because there’s been an increase in, a noticeable increase in crime, specifically in the area, with regards to car thefts, car break-in, car jackings. Last year, there was a very unfortunate event of a shooting that occurred with students from Northeast High School, which was terrible. During this campaign, I was fortunate and honored to be endorsed by our Philadelphia Police Lodge 5, and in my conversations with police officers and some of their leaders, you know the fact of the matter is Philadelphia police, they’re hurting for bodies. People are leaving the Philadelphia Police Department, to go work in suburban counties, or leaving altogether.

When I talk to neighbors, people say all the time that their biggest issue is the crime and their fear of safety. They don’t see a police presence. It’s not necessarily to make more arrests, but it’s just that, that sense of comfort when you walk out of your house and you see a patrol car riding down, that’s just trying to deter, but also make sure, it makes the neighborhood feel safer.

Capital-Star: What’s your top legislative priority after you’re sworn in in January? Can you talk about specific bills you may introduce or support?

Dougherty: So, top legislative priority will be whatever the district needs, but definitely whatever I can do to help crime and public safety. 

Health care is actually one of my top priorities. And also there’s a bill that I’m really interested in, it’s a COLA bill in regards to police and fire, police officers and firefighters. So I really want to get up there, listen more, talk less, learn, because I am going to be a first time candidate, but roll up my sleeves and get to work for the district.