Robert Brady
Congressman Bob Brady has helped lead Philadelphia through many of its most difficult challenges over the past two decades. He has been called upon by mayors, civic, political, union and business leaders, to mediate labor disputes and help end a financial crisis that could well have crippled the city and damaged our economy long term. He succeeded where others have failed in forging alliances among the most diverse communities in Philadelphia, and is credited with healing racial wounds, bringing Philadelphians together to reach common goals.
Bob Brady grew up in Overbrook, a working class section of West Philadelphia. He is the oldest of three brothers. His father Robert, at the time a Marine Corp Sergeant and combat veteran, met his mother, Enez Caterini while she was working at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during World War II. Robert went on to serve as a decorated Port Authority Police Officer, while Enez, a full-time working mother was a cashier at a local neighborhood food store.
Bob Brady graduated from St. Thomas More High School, and played linebacker in the local semi-pro football leagues around Philadelphia at the time; he received several scholarship offers to play college football. Bob’s father passed away at a young age, and much of the family’s financial responsibilities fell to him. In 1969, Bob graduated from a four year carpenters apprenticeship program, and became a foreman on various building projects across the city.
By the mid-seventies, he was married with two young children, Bob Jr. and Kimberly, when the recession hit. Bob found himself like so many others in the trades at the time, out of work. Brady began driving for Philadelphia’s City Council President, and then later found work as the Sergeant at Arms for the Philadelphia City Council. Soon Wilson Goode was elected Mayor, and Brady was tapped to be his Deputy Mayor for Labor, where he worked to ensure working families had a voice in City Hall. Against the backdrop of Ronald Regan’s anti-urban agenda, Brady ran for the Chairmanship of the Philadelphia Democratic Party and won. He has been praised by Bill Clinton and Ed Rendell for ushering in an era of unparalleled racial and party unity, while mobilizing a generation of Democrats to help elect pro-Philadelphia candidates.
Congressman Robert A. Brady (D., Pa.) was sworn into office to represent the people of Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District on May 21, 1998. The First Congressional District includes portions of South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, Southwest Philadelphia, Northwest Philadelphia, Center City and parts of Delaware County. District One is among the most ethnically diverse districts in Pennsylvania.
During his legislative career, Congressman Brady has consistently earned an “A” or 100 percent rating from the AFL-CIO, NAACP, The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, the Human Rights Campaign and every other national human rights organization that scores Congress. He has been honored for his dedication and 100 percent rating on issues of social and economic justice.
In the 107th Congress, which ended in December, 2002, Congressman Brady pushed an aggressive legislative agenda, Among other things winning $21 million for vocational and technical training programs and $600,000 in funding for the reinstallation of lights on the dangerous Platt Bridge. Brady sponsored the Emergency Response Disease Protection Act, which provided funding for an investigation of the work-related transmission of Hepatitis C among firefighters and other first responder unit workers.
In recognition of his growing influence and effectiveness in Congress, Brady has been appointed to the position of Senior Whip for the 110th Congress. The appointment gives the Congressman responsibility for ensuring direct communication between Democratic leaders and the congressional legislative body and for ensuring that Members of Congress are aware of legislative issues of importance to working people and the disadvantaged.
Congressman Brady has been a Professor, teaching Organizational Dynamics, at the University of Pennsylvania for the past decade. He currently lives in Overbrook with his wife, Debra.
Along his journey from out-of-work father to Congressman, Bob Brady has become a grandfather to Alex, Serena, Ricky and Robby, and has accumulated the passion, strength and experience needed to lead Philadelphia as it’s next Mayor. He aims to be a Mayor who puts people and their neighborhoods first.