Encyclopedia Dubuque
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BRADY, James: Difference between revisions
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BRADY, James Edward. (Dubuque, IA, Dec. 25, 1941- ). [[MAYOR]]. One of the city's most colorful and controversial public servants, Brady holds the longest tenure as mayor in the history of Dubuque. Named for boxer "Diamond" Jim Brady, the mayor witnessed most of Dubuque's modern attractions take shape during his term of office including the [[DUBUQUE FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER]], [[DUBUQUE GREYHOUND PARK AND CASINO]], and the start of construction on the U.S. 61 freeway. | [[Image:brady.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]BRADY, James Edward. (Dubuque, IA, Dec. 25, 1941- ). [[MAYOR]]. One of the city's most colorful and controversial public servants, Brady holds the longest tenure as mayor in the history of Dubuque. Named for boxer "Diamond" Jim Brady, the mayor witnessed most of Dubuque's modern attractions take shape during his term of office including the [[DUBUQUE FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER]], [[DUBUQUE GREYHOUND PARK AND CASINO]], and the start of construction on the U.S. 61 freeway. | ||
Brady first campaigned for election to the Dubuque City Council in 1973. He finished third in vote total. In May 1975, he became the only council member within recent years to be censured by the council, a reprimand that could have led to his expulsion from the council. The council found Brady's conduct "injurious to the council" after an outburst over the issue of [[LORAS COLLEGE]] leasing its pool to the city for indoor swimming. Brady apologized for his conduct, and the council action was rescinded. Between 1977 and 1980 Brady was passed over for the one-year mayoral appointment several times before the change in local government to the ward system. | Brady first campaigned for election to the Dubuque City Council in 1973. He finished third in vote total. In May 1975, he became the only council member within recent years to be censured by the council, a reprimand that could have led to his expulsion from the council. The council found Brady's conduct "injurious to the council" after an outburst over the issue of [[LORAS COLLEGE]] leasing its pool to the city for indoor swimming. Brady apologized for his conduct, and the council action was rescinded. Between 1977 and 1980 Brady was passed over for the one-year mayoral appointment several times before the change in local government to the ward system. | ||
Revision as of 02:08, 8 September 2010
BRADY, James Edward. (Dubuque, IA, Dec. 25, 1941- ). MAYOR. One of the city's most colorful and controversial public servants, Brady holds the longest tenure as mayor in the history of Dubuque. Named for boxer "Diamond" Jim Brady, the mayor witnessed most of Dubuque's modern attractions take shape during his term of office including the DUBUQUE FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER, DUBUQUE GREYHOUND PARK AND CASINO, and the start of construction on the U.S. 61 freeway.
Brady first campaigned for election to the Dubuque City Council in 1973. He finished third in vote total. In May 1975, he became the only council member within recent years to be censured by the council, a reprimand that could have led to his expulsion from the council. The council found Brady's conduct "injurious to the council" after an outburst over the issue of LORAS COLLEGE leasing its pool to the city for indoor swimming. Brady apologized for his conduct, and the council action was rescinded. Between 1977 and 1980 Brady was passed over for the one-year mayoral appointment several times before the change in local government to the ward system.
Brady's political strength did not show until his first successful mayoral campaign in 1981 when he defeated councilman Jack Felderman with 61.7 percent of the vote. Brady defeated councilman Bill Hammel in 1985 with 89 percent of the vote.
Brady's first three campaigns were anti-establishment as he campaigned on the theme of wanting to oust an insider business club he claimed controlled the city council. As a "citizen's watchdog," a campaign theme he used in 1977, Brady often found himself at odds with others on the council. This position resulted in disagreement about his effectiveness as a councilman and later as mayor.
Brady enjoyed widespread public recognition. His hobby, motorcycle riding, became his trademark. By 1990 residents had become familiar with seeing their mayor, who remained a teacher in Galena, Illinois, riding his 1974 police-issue Harley-Davidson, purchased at a Dubuque Police Department auction in 1984.