Political career

Doherty was elected to a third term in November 2009.

He was elected President of the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities (PLCM) in 2006. In 2008, Doherty received the PLCM Distinguished Community Service Award, the Local Government Award for Excellence, and was inducted into the Keystone Society for Tourism.

Doherty was recognized by the United States Conference of Mayors

United States Conference of Mayors

United States Conference of Mayors, sometimes referred to as the United States Council of Mayors, is the official non-partisan organization for cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The cities are each represented by their mayor or other chief elected official...

 in 2008 for his efforts to protect the City’s tree canopy. In addition, he serves as a member of the steering committee for the Mayor’s Innovation Project, a learning network of America’s mayors dedicated to efficient government. He supports a woman's right to abortion.

Personal life

Doherty is a graduate of the Scranton Preparatory School and the College of the Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross

The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...

. He and his wife, Donna, have six children. His great-great grandfather, Hughie Jennings

Hughie Jennings

Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...

 is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Political future

Doherty was a candidate in the 2010 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010

The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. The winning candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will serve a four-year term from 2011 to 2015. Candidates for Lieutenant Governor were nominated in a separate primary contest; however, the Lieutenant Governor,...

 until February 17, 2010, when he conceded and entered the race to succeed retiring Democratic State Senator

Pennsylvania State Senate

The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...

 (and Minority Leader) Bob Mellow in the 22nd District. Doherty lost in the primary, however, to John Blake.