Philly ethics board slaps Local 98-associated PAC with fines

A political action committee associated with Philadelphia’s powerful electricians union violated campaign finance regulations and has been fined for the breach, the city Board of Ethics announced Thursday. 

The Concerned Irish Americans of Philadelphia PAC took in $73,250 from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers between February and May of 2013, and spent most of that money to influence last year’s primary election. The PAC should have reported some of those expenditures within 24 hours, but failed to do so on time.

The PAC’s treasurer, Robert Gormley, is a business agent at IBEW Local 98, according to his LinkedIn account.

The Ethics Board’s settlement agreement with the PAC noted that Gormley “has fully cooperated with the board’s investigation.” As a result, the PAC’s fines were lowered to $2,000 from $7,000.