Name: Robert A. "Bob" Brady
Date of Birth: April 7, 1945
Marital status: married to wife Debra, children Bob Jr. and Kimberly, grandchildren Alex, Serena, Ricky and Robby.
Current Residence: Overbrook , Philadelphia, PA
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Bob Brady, grew up in Overbrook, a working class section of West Philadelphia. He graduated from St. Thomas More High School in 1963, and due to the death of his father had to pass up several college football scholarships and secure employment. In 1969, Brady graduated from a four year carpenters apprenticeship program, and became a foreman on various building projects across the city.
As a result of the economic recession of the mid-seventies, Brady found himself out of work. He began driving for Philadelphia’s City Council President, and then later found work as the Sergeant at Arms for the Philadelphia City Council from 1975-1983. When Wilson Goode was elected Mayor, Brady was chosen as his Deputy Mayor for Labor. Brady sunsequently ran for the Chairmanship of the Philadelphia Democratic Party and won.
Upon the resignation of United States Representative Thomas Foglietta, Brady ran in a special election and won the seat representing the First Congressional District which includes portions of South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, Southwest Philadelphia, Northwest Philadelphia, Center City and parts of Delaware County. He currently holds that seat.
Brady has also served as a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic state committee and Democratic National Committee. He has taught Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania from 1997 to the present.
Bob Brady for Mayor 2007
2040 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 1-877-272-3907
Website: Bob Brady for Mayor 2007
As outlined on Bob Brady's Web Site:
- Safer Streets - "On Day One of a Brady administration, we will begin to reclaim our streets. We will deploy 1,000 additional police officers, parole officers and truancy officers. during the next four years, with the resources they need to get the job done...We will also create a cabinet-level position to coordinate faith-based initiatives among churches, mosques, and synagogues in support of community-based policing efforts and job-training programs."
- Better Schools - "On Day One of a Brady administration, we will implement a comprehensive approach to hold everyone accountable. We will use a series of report cards to let parents know which schools are succeeding and which are failing, as well as keeping schools, police, social service agencies, and the courts informed of the names of students who are not showing up for class and the parents responsible for them."
- Lower Taxes - "On Day One of a Brady administration, we will begin an aggressive campaign to eliminate the business privilege tax and cut the city wage tax. The Brady agenda for fighting street violence and turning around our schools can only be achieved if our economy grows to provide more opportunity and jobs. We will ask campaign chairman and friend, Jonathan Saidel, to lead this effort. The successful former city controller will be at Mayor Brady’s side every step of the way to reduce the tax burden that drives businesses and residents to move to the suburbs and beyond."
- Fairer Lending - "On Day One of a Brady administration, we will move to protect working men and women from financial institutions that prey on them through predatory lending and foreclosures. As your Congressman, I have taken the lead in protecting our military men and women fighting overseas from credit card companies that prey on their families back home. As your Mayor, I will work with our City Solicitor and Public Advocate to keep these banks out and work with financial institutions that do not engage in these practices to develop small, longer-term unsecured loans for working families."
- Arts & Culture: The Creative Economy - "Arts and Culture remain one of the key economic development resources for contemporary Philadelphia. From enhancing a vibrant cultural downtown that supports residents and tourism, to neighborhood institutions such as the Mummers Parade, cultural life is a key component of a thriving diverse city. The Brady Creative Economy Plan will achieve the following:
- Create thousands of new jobs and revitalize neighborhoods by stimulating Philadelphia’s Creative Economy.
- Bring Philadelphia’s commitment to arts and cultural organizations on par with major cities.
- Generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new investments in the city by attracting new visitors and residents to a dynamic new cultural center.
- Enhance new educational opportunities for children by allowing arts and cultural organizations to expand their reach into our neighborhoods.
- Increase new tax revenues to be reinvested the City of Philadelphia.
