Party goes on in New York featuring Pa.’s next governor

A tradition that almost ended continues at this weekend’s Pennsylvania Society gathering in New York.  The Electricians Local 98 cocktail party will go on Friday night because of requests from top politicians.

John Dougherty, head of the Electricians Union, says he was thinking of ending the Pennsylvania Society traditional cocktail party.

“We had some serious apprehensions about doing the party based on unemployment, but this is the most drastic political landscape change we have had in decades,” said Dougherty.

Dougherty adds that many powerful politicians had inquired about the party but he downplays reports that Governor-Elect Tom Corbett was one of them.

“I don’t want to say he inquired but everybody stops by. He has been a regular attendee at the Local 98 holiday party for years,” Dougherty said.  ” We had some understanding he was going to stop by and actually put him on the card.”

The invitation to the party does highlight Corbett as a “Special Guest.”

Dougherty says the union’s marketing fund pays for the event.