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Name: Anne Brady
Gender: Female
External Links: Anne4da.com
Member since: 2020
Country/Countries: Ireland |
Biography
Before beginning law school in 2005, I was a journalist for more than 20 years. Many of those years were spent as a newspaper editor, where I trained, mentored and managed young reporters. While in law school, I volunteered for organizations such as the Justice Project and the American Civil Liberties Union. As an attorney, I provided pro bono legal services to veterans’ groups and senior citizens. I also provided low cost legal assistance through the Arizona Bar’s Modest Means Program. Since buying a pub in Ireland, I have provided my services as a volunteer to teach English to immigrants, and I have volunteered many hours to DA Ireland as its counsel, dealing with the various challenges posed by the organization’s new FEC compliance policy. I also am an active member of DA’s Taxation Task Force. I have been married for more than 25 years to my husband, Richard Brady, who was a tax accountant in the U.S. and is now the cook in our pub.
Describe your volunteer work with DA and cite your greatest DA accomplishment.
I joined DA Ireland and became its counsel in 2020 during the Covid lockdown. As soon as the government allowed us to go outside, we hit the streets to register Americans to vote in the 2020 election. I held a registration event in my pub in Cavan. I travelled to Galway and Limerick to sign up voters. However, it was not until 2021 that my position as counsel really mattered. Due to Covid restrictions on indoor meetings, we had difficulty scheduling an AGM and also complying with DA notice requirements. Once that challenge was met, before out AGM was held in early 2022, we ran into the new DA FEC compliance policy. I became part of a team of DA attorneys who studied the issue at great length and advised our Executive Committees as best we could how to navigate the situation. I believe my greatest DA accomplishment was earning the respect of the other DA leaders on that team, who then encouraged and nominated me to run for International Counsel.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for International Counsel because I want to be a part of the change I believe is necessary in order for Democrats Abroad to achieve, succeed and grow in the years ahead. I believe it is important for an attorney to provide well-researched and reasoned legal advice, while always treating clients and everyone with whom I deal with courtesy and respect. For me, being an attorney is about finding the best possible legal solutions to meet my clients’ needs, whether it is about interpreting government regulations, reviewing a contract or any number of other challenges. I understand that every Country Committee has its own laws and dynamics with which it deals. I will work with the CC counsels and support them as they strive to comply with those laws and help their CCs thrive.
How will your skill sets and experience contribute to DA’s success?
When I first came to DA, it was all about getting out the vote in Ireland, while being available as an attorney to provide legal advice when needed. In the past year and a half, I have had to lean more on my skills of collaboration, active listening, research and leadership. I have had occasion to become involved with DA on a more global level and I have learned what works and what doesn’t. I believe I can be the legal advisor DA needs at this time to understand the diverse challenges the various Country Committees face and to help implement solutions that work for everyone.
Should you be elected, are there any DA organizational or practical issues (not political goals) that you would like to address?
In my opinion, the Country Committees need to be empowered to do their best work in the ways that work best in each of their environments. Instead of dictating from on high and punishing Country Committee that don’t fall in line, the DPCA and the International Executive Committee should be there to support and nurture them. Given the broad diversity of laws, regulations and customs of the host countries in which the various Country Committees operate, each Country Committee should be responsible for its own governance and internal management. I support passage of a charter amendment that has been proposed in the past in this regard.
How can Democrats Abroad best raise our profile among American voters abroad and better work to elect Democrats?
My work on the Taxation Tax Force has shown me that the fear of the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. state departments of revenue is one of the greatest factors that dissuade Americans from voting in U.S. elections. Also, people don’t believe their vote matters, and they don’t believe their elected representatives in the United States care about them. There are even companies putting on free online seminars directed at Americans abroad, attempting to persuade them to give up their U.S. citizenship for these and other reasons. I think DA needs to better support the work of the Taxation Tax Force, but it also needs to provide more educational opportunities for Americans Abroad with respect to the continued advantages of U.S. citizenship, including voting rights. We also need to be present and visible at every opportunity.
Endorsement from Joe Smallhoover - DNC member, past International Legal Counsel
I first got to know Anne Brady as among the lawyers and leaders in DA who recognized the importance of the legal and governance questions raised by recent International Executive Committee policy changes. Such topics of concern included local and cross-border data protection, FEC compliance, our institutional history, and other legal concerns that affect and are affected by the choices we make as an organization. Anne's observations and questions are always astute, insightful and well-reflected. I am confident that Anne has the right character and legal temperament to be a fine International Legal Counsel.
Anne's manner is honest, sincere, and frank. As current Legal Counsel for DA Ireland, Anne understands well the legal and regulatory environment in which country committees operate, as well as the need to balance those concerns with that of the global organization. Anne works well with others, listening carefully to their views and treating all with respect, regardless of differences in points of view. Having served in this role myself off-and-on for a total of 18 years, most recently from 2019-2021, I know well what the job entails and my experience tells me that Anne is exceptionally qualified for the challenges ahead. I am confident she will provide sound legal advice to our leaders as a member of the Executive Committee, while relying (as wisdom dictates) on the assistance, collaboration, and cooperation of others. I am proud to endorse Anne Brady for International Counsel.
Endorsement from Patti Shields - Chair DA Ireland
Anne Brady’s commitment to her role as counsel to DA Ireland’s Executive Committee, our membership, and the global organization is one of the greatest strengths of our Country Committee. Anne’s work across countries navigating the newly implemented FEC policy was commendable. She guided us well and has the full support of our Executive Committee as she pursues leveraging this experience to benefit the global organization.
Anne is a natural leader and collaborator. She extended her influence beyond our borders and has been a great asset to the Taxation Task Force. She facilitated our Country Committee’s best attended meeting of the year, with her insights on U.S. tax compliance and the Irish system. She understands that the fear of tax can be a barrier to voting. She put members at ease with her cool, plain spoken, easy-to-understand approach to complicated issues – and her dry and witty sense of humor! Anne can always be counted on for sound advice and a good listening ear. She is a consummate professional who does not let the emotion or the hype of a situation dictate action. She is balanced and fair. She sees her role as a teacher and facilitator – not a prosecutor. Anne has a sophisticated ability to bring everyone to the table. I am thrilled that she is selflessly willing to bring her talents, intellect and fairness to the global level. I hope every DPCA voter recognizes, as I do, what a strong candidate Anne is to fill this position.
Endorsement from Ada Shen - CC organizer DA China, past Chair of DA France,
Anne Brady embodies many qualities I find ideal in an International Legal Counsel for Democrats Abroad. She not only has a sound understanding of the law and how it applies to us (or doesn’t) across various jurisdictions, she has an even-keeled temperament, is methodical and thoughtful, and speaks directly with clarity. Anne doesn’t say yes when she means no, and she doesn’t speak without need. She is respectful of others, regardless of differences of opinion, no matter how heated. At the same time, she can more than hold her own.
She understands well the importance of what Global can and should be doing to provide the support that country committees need to be compliant with all the laws o which we are held to account, not just one set of US laws. From my own perspective as former Chair of DA France, and as a member of the DPCA, I think it is essential that we have leadership who will listen well to the needs of all and execute with simple clarity the legal policies that will allow us to get back on mission. That mission being getting out the overseas vote, and being the margin of victory in US elections for Democrats. I strongly endorse Anne Brady. I urge you to get to know her at www.anne4da.com and to vote for her for International Legal Counsel.