Michael H. O'Brien
- Democrat
- 224 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202175
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2175 - P: (717) 783-8098
- F: (717) 780-4787
- O'Brien's Website
Representative, District 175
| 1 | International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers | $55,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Matthew McManus, BlueStone Real Estate Capital | $11,000 |
| 3 | Blaney PAC | $10,750 |
| 4 | PAC 102 | $10,000 |
| 5 | Ironworkers Local 401 PAC | $5,000 |
About O'Brien's Top Donors
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Gov. Ed Rendell called IBEW “the most politically influential union around,” in an April 30, 2008 article in the Philadelphia City Paper. As long-time leader of the IBEW and former treasurer of the city Democratic Party, John Dougherty has been a kingmaker in city politics, and an endorsement from Dougherty is often followed by an infusion of campaign cash from other sources, and volunteers to help with getting out the vote. The extent to which Dougherty and IBEW depend upon campaign contributions to wield influence was dramatized in 2007 when Dougherty joined U.S. Rep. Chakah Fattah in filing a lawsuit alleging that Philadelphia did not have the power to limit campaign contributions to candidates in city elections. As part of their lawyers’ arguments in Nutter v. Dougherty, et al, it was alleged that the Pennsylvania General Assembly had intended to preempt any municipality in the state from making its own campaign finance laws. Dougherty and IBEW have also been strong supporters of expanding legalized gambling and building casinos in Philadelphia, in part because of the potential contracts for IBEW members.
Matthew McManus, BlueStone Real Estate Capital
Mathew McManus is Chairman of BlueStone Real Estate Capital, a real estate banking firm. According to its website, “BlueStone Real Estate Capital has become synonymous with high profile financing mandates for developments and properties in the Philadelphia market. In addition to The Edge at Avenue North, other examples include the Westin Hotel, Drexelbrook Apartment Complex, Presidential City Luxury Apartment Complex, Einstein One Medical Center, Plymouth Meeting Office Park and Korman Christina Mills Apartment Complex.” BlueStone also secured the construction loan for a student housing facility at the main gateway to Temple University. Here’s an interesting quote from McManus on the importance of “competency” in a developer versus a developer’s ability to influence elected officials, from the 10/1/09 edition of National Real Estate Investor: “So what makes a student housing developer an attractive borrower? ‘At the core, we're looking for the right supply and demand for the beds and the right proximity to the campus,’ says Matthew McManus, chairman of Philadelphia-based NAI Bluestone. ‘Probably the last consideration is the competency level of the developer and its ability to execute the business plan.’ ”
Blaney PAC
Blaney PAC
PAC 102
PAC 102
Ironworkers Local 401 PAC
According to its website, Ironworkers Local 401’s members are “trained in skills such as the erection of structural steel, miscellaneous steel, metal curtainwall and windowall systems, precast concrete structures, fences, towers, pre-engineered metal buildings, and other steel structures.” Local 401 members have played a prominent role in the construction of the Philadelphia Convention Center, Comcast Center, and the city’s sports stadiums, among other projects. In 2009, Ironworkers joined other unions in helping to convince the Delaware County Council to spend $28.6 million towards the construction of a $115 million soccer stadium in Chester. From 2001-2008, Local 401 gave more than $450,000 to candidates in Pennsylvania.