In later interviews, Dougherty and Nutter disclosed some of the details of a conversation they had in January in which Dougherty acknowledged Nutter's desire to install his own agency chairman. Both men said Nutter did not directly request Dougherty's resignation.
"It's generally my view that the mayor should have maximum flexibility with regard to appointments to any boards and commissions, and he said he understood that," Nutter said.
At the same time, the mayor added that he understood the complexities of giving up a board seat amid a political campaign. He noted that he did not quit his own job as chair of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority until a month before last year's five-way Democratic mayoral primary.
Perhaps for that reason, Dougherty's letter seemed hardly surprising to Nutter - despite persistent rumors in political circles that Dougherty, who opposed Nutter's candidacy in the primary, was unwilling to leave his powerful post.
Dougherty, for his own part, said it had long been his intent to give up the chairmanship no matter what the outcome of the three-way race to succeed retiring State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo. "Win, lose or draw, I was going to step down. He knew when he needed it, he could have it," Dougherty said.
Nutter did not endorse anyone in the Senate race.
One of Philadelphia's political power brokers for the past decade, Dougherty has suffered a number of setbacks during the last several years.
In addition to losing last week's Senate race to lawyer Larry Farnese, Dougherty was forced out two years ago as treasurer of the city Democratic Party. And in last year's mayoral primary, he gambled the considerable muscle - and money - of his union to back the unsuccessful candidacy of Tom Knox.
"Anyone who believes that somehow the sun has set on Doc's ability as a major player in Philadelphia" is plain wrong, said longtime political observer Kevin Feeley. "He is just as active and influential as ever."
