THE BRADY BUNCH
DEMS LINING UP TO CHALLENGE POWERFUL DEM IN 1ST DIST. RACE
A new Democratic challenger announced her bid Monday to unseat 10-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, D-1 of Philadelphia, in the May 15 primary election.
“I am running as a public servant for the people,” said Michele Lawrence in a statement to supporters at Philadelphia’s Yesha Fellowship Hall. “People become empowered through their votes and by holding their elected leaders accountable. If you don’t like your current leadership, vote for somebody new. Let’s dispel the myth that your vote doesn’t count.”
Lawrence is a former area president and a senior vice president for the Philadelphia retail market of Wells Fargo, overseeing $2.5 billion in deposits and $1 billion in loans.
She retired from the banking industry in 2016 to establish MicheleSpeaks LLC, which “helps people realize their worth, build wealth, embrace wellness and accrue wisdom by providing empowerment tools and events, educational opportunities and strategic planning services,” according to a release from her campaign.
Lawrence, a 1991 graduate of Rutgers University, is a Newark, N.J., native who has lived in the district for 13 years. She hosts an AM radio show, also called “Michele Speaks,” and sits on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region, Dare to Imagine Church and the Urban League of Philadelphia. She has previously been a member of the School District of Philadelphia’s Renaissance Advisory Board and was involved with the Urban Financial Services Coalition, according to her campaign.
Brady, 72, who also chairs the city’s Democratic Party, typically enjoys a clear primary in election years. This year is shaping up a bit differently, however.
Among the other Democratic challengers vying for the seat are Nina Ahmad, former deputy mayor for public engagement, political newcomer Casey McLeod and former traffic court judge Willie Singletary.
Ahmad, a molecular biologist, immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 21 and earned a Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania. She served as deputy mayor for public engagement under Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, overseeing the Commission for Women, the Office of Black Male Engagement, and the Youth Commission. She also served on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and on Mayor Michael Nutter’s Commission on Asian American Affairs.
McLeod, a Hunting Park native and Olney High School graduate, is running on a populist platform. A health care worker, McLeod says on his website that he has lived through the everyday struggles of the district’s poorer residents – with a brother who died of a drug overdose and friends who have been gunned down on city streets – and will fight to restore hope in the community.
Singletary was caught up in a 2013 ticket-fixing scandal in the since-abolished Philadelphia Traffic Court, but was acquitted on all charges. He was convicted for lying to investigators, however, and served 20 months in prison.
Singletary was also placed on suspension during an investigation that he sent a cashier pictures of his genitals in 2012 and subsequently resigned.
Singletary admitted in a video announcing his candidacy that he “made some mistakes,” but said he has apologized and does not think his past should hinder his future.
Philadelphia’s deputy mayor of labor, Rich Lazer, is also reportedly eyeing a run, while Lindy Li, who ran for the 7th Congressional District in 2016 before switching to the neighboring 6th District and later withdrawing entirely, has already put her hat in the ring.
Lazer, who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from LaSalle University, has a strong working-class background and union ties that could play well to the district’s bluecollar base.
He served with Kenney for 10 years as a community liaison, and serves on the boards of PIDC, Philadelphia Works, Philadelphia Mural Arts, Interstate Land Management Corporation and Victim Witness Services of South Philadelphia.
Li is a Chinese-American graduate of the Agnes Irwin School in Rosemont and Princeton University in New Jersey with a financial background in the pharmaceutical industry.
Her 2016 campaign was managed by Donald “D.A.” Jones, whose name might sound familiar in conjunction with Brady, as he recently pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about a probe into the congressman’s 2012 campaign.
Jones and fellow political consultant Ken Smukler were charged in October for allegedly concealing a $90,000 payment to 2012 primary challenger Jimmy Moore. Moore and a former aide have also pleaded guilty.
Smukler is awaiting trial, but Brady is not likely to be charged – an agreement granting prosecutors the right to charge the congressman outside of the traditional statute of limitations has lapsed. Brady has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Brady could not reached for comment Monday, a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Lawrence spoke of King in her announcement, touching on a quote indicating human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable, but requires “vigorous and positive action.”
“I am here to make progress for the people,” she said. “I have been challenged to put my money where my mouth is and I’ve done just that. My time, talent and treasure are invested in you, the people of Congressional District 1.”
Delaware County Democratic Party Chairman David Landau was not in town Monday, but said in a text that Brady is and has been an outstanding congressman, particularly for Delaware County.
“He has a strong, very progressive voting record and is decisively antiTrump,” Landau said. “His constituent services have been prompt and responsive. He enjoys the strong support of Democrats in Delco.”
The district extends from southwest Philadelphia into first-ring suburbs like Darby and Lansdowne, flows along the Delaware River through Chester and Tinicum, then turns upwards into Nether Providence and surrounding communities.
Candidates can begin circulating nominating petitions next month.