Gerald Brady

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Gerald Brady
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
from the 4th district
In office
January 9, 2007 – February 2, 2022[1]
Preceded byJoseph Dipinto
Succeeded byCharles Freel
Personal details
Born (1956-07-09) July 9, 1956 (age 67)
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceWilmington, Delaware
Alma materKing's College
Conviction(s)Shoplifting (2 counts)
Criminal penalty2 months probation
Date apprehended
January 25, 2022[2]

Gerald L. Brady (born July 9, 1956) is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives, representing District 4 from 2007 to 2022.[3] He was elected in 2006 after the retirement of Republican Joseph Dipinto.[4]

Brady resigned from office in February 2022, stating that he had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The resignation followed the spread of leaked emails which showed him using racial slurs towards Asian Americans as well as a shoplifting investigation.[5]

Early life and education[edit]

Brady graduated from Salesianum School and King's College. He is a Chief Warrant Officer Four with the Delaware Army National Guard where he has served since 1981, and a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Counter War on Terrorism.[6]

Controversies[edit]

Use of racial slur[edit]

In June 2021, Brady referred to sex workers using the racist and misogynistic term "chink broads."[7] These words were used in an email and was sent amidst rising anti-Asian sentiment in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic which had been the focus of national attention months earlier when eight people, six of whom were Asian women, were killed in the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings. Some criticisms of Brady's email noted the simultaneous use of an anti-Asian slur and misogynistic term, pointing out that racism and sexism against Asian American women are often intertwined.[8] Brady announced he would not seek re-election for another term, but State Senator Sarah McBride and State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton called on him to resign.[9]

In response to the remarks, AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler called for Brady's resignation as Delaware State AFL-CIO Executive Director, a post he has held since 2003.[10][11] On January 22, 2022, Brady announced he would resign his seat, effective January 31.[12]

January 2022 arrest[edit]

On January 25, 2022, Brady was arrested by Newark police and charged with two counts of shoplifting.[13] Brady stole a shopping cart full of firewood from Acme on December 29, 2021. He tried to steal more items at the same location on January 12, 2022, but this time, he was confronted by a store employee.

In May 2022, Brady was convicted of shoplifting and sentenced to two months probation.[14]

Electoral history[edit]

  • In 2006, Brady won the Democratic primary with 746 votes (50.2%),[15] and went on to win the general election with 4,053 votes (55.0%) against Republican nominee Gary Linarducci.[16]
  • In 2008, Brady won the general election with 7,174 votes (73.4%) against Republican nominee Tyler Nixon, who had also qualified and received votes as the Libertarian candidate.[17]
  • In 2010, Brady won the general election with 5,298 votes (65.8%) against Republican nominee Richard Carroll.[18]
  • In 2012, Brady was unopposed the general election, winning 9,133 votes.[19]
  • In 2014, Brady won the general election with 4,356 (59.7%) against Republican nominee Robert Keesler.[20]
  • In 2016, Brady was unopposed the general election, winning 9,565 votes.[21]
  • In 2018, Brady was unopposed the general election, winning 8,512 votes.[22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Representative Gerald L. Brady (D) - Delaware General Assembly". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Longtime Wilmington lawmaker Gerald Brady charged with shoplifting at a Newark Acme".
  3. ^ "Representative Gerald L. Brady (D)". Dover, Delaware: Delaware General Assembly. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "Representative Gerald Brady's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  5. ^ Gamard, Karl Baker and Sarah. "Citing PTSD, Rep. Gerald Brady resigns. Sources say there is more to the story". The News Journal. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  6. ^ "Delaware House Democrats Gerald L. Brady". Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  7. ^ "Delaware Lawmaker Used Anti-Asian Slur in Email". 20 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  8. ^ "Wilmington lawmaker uses anti-Asian slur in email sent to wrong recipient".
  9. ^ Battaglia, Roman (July 31, 2021). "Some Democratic lawmakers calling for one of their own to step down immediately". Delaware Public Radio. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  10. ^ @lizshuler (August 27, 2021). "I am sickened by the despicable remarks made by Delaware State AFL-CIO Executive Director Gerald Brady: and call fo…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Alamdari, Natalia. "National AFL-CIO president calls for Brady's resignation from union role after use of anti-Asian slur". The News Journal. Retrieved Sep 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "State rep resigns six months after using anti-Asian slur". 22 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Longtime Wilmington lawmaker Gerald Brady charged with shoplifting at a Newark Acme".
  14. ^ "Former state Rep. Gerald Brady sentenced after pleading guilty to shoplifting".
  15. ^ "State of Delaware Primary Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Delaware Department of Elections. October 18, 2006. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  16. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 7, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  17. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Delaware Department of Elections. November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  18. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Delaware Department of Elections. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  19. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Delaware Department of Elections. November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  20. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Delaware Department of Elections. November 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  21. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Delaware Department of Elections. November 8, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  22. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Delaware Department of Elections. November 6, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2019.

External links[edit]