Robert A. Brady encyclopedia topics

Early biography

Brady was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After high school, Brady went to work as a carpenter. Brady was elected a precinct committeeman for the Democratic Party in 1968. When his wardleader, City Council President George X. Schwartz was convicted and imprisoned in the Abscam scandal, Brady was elected to succeed him as Democratic Leader of the 34th Ward. Brady served as a staff aide in the Philadelphia City Council and a staff aide in the Pennsylvania State Senate. He has been the chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party since winning election to that position in June, 1986, and a member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission from 1991 until his election as Congressman.

Running for Congress

When 17-year Congressman Thomas M. Foglietta resigned from the House of Representatives upon being named Ambassador to Italy, Brady was unopposed by any Democrats in a primary and won the general election in the heavily Democratic district. Brady was sworn in on May 19 1998.

As a congressman, Brady still spends most of his time running the Philadelphia Democratic Party while mediating disputes in the city between politicians and between labor unions and management. Brady co-teaches a course at the University of Pennsylvania, which many consider as odd, because although it is a highly regarded school, Brady does not have a college education, and the fact Penn that has stifled graduate students' attempts to organize a union. He is currently the only county chairman serving as a member of Congress, which gives him added access to national Democratic Party candidates and leaders.

Mayoral election

On January 25 2007 Brady announced that he would seek the Democratic Party nomination for mayor of Philadelphia. He was the second sitting U.S. Congressman after Chaka Fattah to announce his candidacy for mayor. On March 6, Brady failed to list his city pension on the financial-interests statement he filed with his nominating petitions. Within a week Milton Street filed a petition challenge to remove Brady off the ballot due to not disclosing his pension. Another challenge was brought by a group of voters, and supported by mayoral candidates Tom Knox and Dwight Evans. On April 13 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that Brady's failure to not list parts of his income should not keep him off the primary ballot.

On 2007 May 15, Brady lost the Democratic Mayoral primary to Michael Nutter.