James T. Brett

James T. Brett (born December 22, 1949, Boston)[1] is a former American politician who is the current president and CEO of The New England Council.[2] He is also the Chairman of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.[3] From 1981 until 1996, Brett was a Democratic Party member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

For persons of a similar name, see James Brett (disambiguation).
James Brett
Brett in 2022
President and CEO of the New England Council
Assumed office
1996
Preceded byPeter Meade
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1981–1996
Preceded byJohn J. Finnegan
Succeeded byMarty Walsh
Constituency14th Suffolk (1981–1995)
13th Suffolk (1995–1996)
Personal details
Born (1949-12-22) December 22, 1949
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma materAmerican University
Suffolk University
John F. Kennedy School of Government
OccupationPolitician

Brett was the runner-up in the 1993 Boston mayoral election.

Biography
Portrait of Brett, circa 1983

Brett grew up in Savin Hill as one of six siblings, the eldest of whom, Jack, was born with an intellectual disability and died in 2010. In high school, Brett participated in a federal TRIO program called Upward Bound, which works with students to prepare them for college.

From 1980-81, Brett was the Massachusetts' assistant secretary of energy.[1]

Brett represented the 14th Suffolk District from 1981 until his resignation in 1996. As a member of the House, Brett served as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Banks and Banking, the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice, the Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting, the Joint Committee on Counties, the House Committee on Legislative Redistricting, the House Committee on Taxation, and the House Committee on Banking.[2]

In 1993, he was a candidate in the Boston mayoral election. He finished second in the nonpartisan primary, but lost in the general election to Acting Mayor Thomas Menino.[4]

Since 1996, Brett has been the president and CEO of the New England Council.[2]

Recognition

In 2019, Brett received an honorary doctorate from Beacon College.[5]

References
  1. 1995-1996 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  2. "James T. Brett". The New England Council. The New England Council. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  3. Lotan, Gal Tziperman (May 19, 2011). "Brett gets the call from White House". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  4. "Election Results". Cityofboston.gov. The City of Boston. Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  5. "James Brett receives honorary doctorate from Beacon College | Dorchester Reporter". www.dotnews.com. Retrieved 2021-10-21.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.