Councilman questioned over claiming union endorsement he doesn’t have

A Philadelphia City Councilman is scratching his head over an endorsement — or lack thereof — by two municipal labor unions. 

Councilman David Oh says the police and firefighters unions both endorsed him during the primary, and he thought that support extended to the general election.  

“Unless I get an actual communication from the unions themselves — letterhead, phone call, text message — I can’t take second-hand information as being accurate or proper,” Oh said.

That second-hand information is in the form of a press release saying the unions have not endorsed Oh for the general election. The e-mail sent to reporters says it’s shameful that Oh is using the names of the unions, which don’t plan to endorse him in the fall. Oh says he’s been asked to come before the unions for another interview.

“I’m happy to talk to the firefighters leadership to see what is going on,” he said. “I still intend to present myself as a candidate, as a strong voice for our firefighters and police officers.”

Oh finished first in the primary voting on the Republican side of the ballot.