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Dan Tinney: Union Guy Who Gets Business


Why are Philly’s unions supporting a Republican?

Well, first of all, a lot of Philly Republicans are pro-union. The support is hardly unusual. And in this case, Dan Tinney, an active steamfitter, could knock off David Oh, who would not be considered a reliable union vote.

But it’s more than that, according to Local Union 420 Business Manager Anthony Gallagher, who pointed out that Tinney has worked as a financial advisor as well as putting in shifts at area refineries.

“He understands the value of a dollar and he understands the value of a day’s work,” Gallagher told The Spirit.

Gallagher added that while Council is generally, reliably pro-union, Tinney “understands that you need to attract business and investment or none of us is working.”

Tinney grew up in Northeast Philly, but his father’s family business, Tinney Trucking, operated in the Riverwards at Aramingo and Cumberland until 1988, when the company went out of business. His father suddenly becoming unemployed was a harrowing experience that shaped the candidate’s philosophies on governance today.

“He was out of work for nine months, [he] finally found a job for low pay and long hours, [then] my mom went to nursing school,” Tinney said. “They got back on their feet and then he got a better job. Long story short: 2007, recession hit, same thing, he had to take a pay cut, 75 percent reduction in his pension.”

“I’m running based on jobs,” Tinney added. “People talk about education and solving poverty, but I don’t think anything gets solved until you figure out how to bring jobs to this area.”

His jobs plans includes utilizing the nearby natural gas from the Marcellus Shale to attract businesses. A pipeline of ready-to-use gas to the city would be a boom.

Dan Tinney

Dan Tinney

“[Business] will come here if there’s a cheap abundant source of energy,” Tinney said. “We have a first class port and the [gas] is only 100 miles away… but right now we’re not taking advantage of this nearby resource.”

He also said that the shale and the city’s potential with it could be a bridge over the Philly – Harrisburg divide.

“There’s an appetite for it [in the Republican controlled House],” Tinney said. “We [Philadelphia] just have to realize it’s the future.”

Tinney lacks Denny O’Brien’s name recognition, even in his home neighborhood, but hopes to overcome that by getting ward leaders to support him.  

“We got a lot of ward leaders up here (66th Ward, where he is the treasurer), some spots in South Philly… and areas in the Riverwards,” he said.

His union allies may also bring in some elected Democratic officials as well. As of press time Democratic State Rep. Kevin Boyle endorsed Tinney.  

Beyond that, Gallagher and his union buddies will be delivering several hundred volunteers to the polling places.

“We’ll have at least 400 at the polls, plus more from the rest of the Building Trades,” Gallagher said.

Tinney finished fourth in the Republican Primary.

You’ve got the power to vote, here’s everything you need to know to make the most informed decision on November 3rd.

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