Robert A. Brady (b. April 7, 1945) is a politician from the state of Pennsylvania, currently representing the state's 1st Congressional district (map) in the U.S. House

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 ran for the seat and won it by a large margin due to his broad support in racially and economically diverse Philadelphia communities. As a Congressman, Brady still spends a lot 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. He currently is the only county chairman serving as a member of Congress, a fact which gives him added access to national Democratic Party candidates and leaders.