Bob Brady
Bob Brady | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 1st district | |
| Assumed office May 19, 1998– | |
| Preceded by | Tom Foglietta |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Debra Brady |
For the economist, see Robert A. Brady (economist)
Robert A. "Bob" Brady (b. April 7, 1945) is a politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Since 1998, he has represented the Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
Early biography
Brady was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After high school, Brady went to work as a carpenter. Concerned about local problems, 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 a heavily gerymandered 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 despite not having a college education, and despite the fact Penn has stifled graduate students' attempts to organize a union. He is currently the only county chairman serving as a member of Congress, a fact which gives him added access to national Democratic Party candidates and leaders. In his 27 years as Chairman of Philadelphia's Democratic Party, officials of that party have faced over a thousand federal corruption counts. Brady rarely sponors any legislation or makes any speeches in the House of Representatives.
Mayoral election
On January 25, 2007 Brady announced that he would seek the Democratic Party nomination for mayor of Philadelphia. He is the second sitting U.S. Congressman after Chaka Fattah to announce his candidacy.
Rep. Brady's official mayoral race website is located at http://www.bobbradyworks.com/
External links
- 2007 Mayoral Race website
- Official House website
- The Political Graveyard
- United States Congress. "Bob Brady (id: B001227)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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