James T. Brett

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{for|persons of a similar name|James Brett (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = James T. Brett (45210393472) (6).jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Brett in 2018

| name = James Brett

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|12|22|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = politician, executive

| residence = Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

| party = Democrat

| spouse =

| alma_mater = American University
Suffolk University
John F. Kennedy School of Government

| title = President and CEO of the New England Council

| term_start = 1996

| term_end =

| predecessor = Peter Meade

| successor =

| office1 = Chair of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

| president1 = Joe Biden

| term_start1 = June 2022

| term_end1 = 2025

| president2 = Barack Obama

| term_start2 = 2011

| term_end2 = 2013

| title3 = Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

| term_start3 = 1981

| term_end3 = 1996

| predecessor3 = John J. Finnegan

| successor3 = Marty Walsh

|constituency3 = 14th Suffolk (1981–1995)
13th Suffolk (1995–1996)

| office4 = Massachusetts Assistant Secretary of Energy

| governor4 = Edward J. King

| term4 = 1980–1981

}}

James T. Brett (born December 22, 1949) is an American former politician who is the current president and CEO of The New England Council.{{cite web|title=James T. Brett|url=http://www.newenglandcouncil.com/about/staff/james-t-brett/|work=The New England Council|accessdate=June 5, 2011}} From 1981 until 1996, Brett was a Democratic Party member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

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

Brett has been an advocate for people with disabilities. Brett has twice served as chairman of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, first as chairman during the Obama administration, and currently during the Biden administration. He also served as a member of the commission during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Brett has also been a member of the National Council on Disability, and has served as the chair of both the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission and the Massachusetts Intellectual Disability Commission.

Early life, education, and early career

Brett was born December 22, 1949 in Boston.{{cite book|title=1995-1996 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts|url=https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof19951996bost#page/88/mode/2up}} Brett is a first-generation American, being the son of parents to emigrated from the Irish town of Tubbercurry. He grew up in the Savin Hill neighborhood as one of six siblings. The eldest sibling, his brother 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.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Before working in government, Brett was an account manager for New England Telephone.{{cite news |title=Boston City Council candidates |work=The Boston Globe |date=September 14, 1979}}

Political and government career

File:1983 James Brett Massachusetts House of Representatives.png

Brett was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1979 Boston City Council election. From 1980-81, Brett was Massachusetts' assistant secretary of energy under Governor Edward J. King.

Brett represented the 14th Suffolk District from 1981 until his resignation in 1996 to became head of the New England Council. 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.

Brett was regarded to be a political liberal. An exception to his generally liberal politics, however, was his anti-abortion stances.{{cite web |last1=Rimer |first1=Sara |title=Boston Whittles Mayoral Field To 2 for Runoff |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/22/us/boston-whittles-mayoral-field-to-2-for-runoff.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=2 March 2024 |date=22 September 1993}}

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.{{cite web|title=Election Results |url=http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/search/default.asp |work=Cityofboston.gov |publisher=The City of Boston |accessdate=June 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907221710/http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/search/default.asp |archivedate=September 7, 2011 }}

New England Council

File:L-22-12-15-A-086 (52565494389) (1).jpg, who had been Brett's successor in the Massachusetts House of Representatives]]

File:Governor-baker-speaks-at-new-england-council-meeting 52136172933 o (1).jpg in 2022]]

File:Governor-healey-addresses-new-england-council 52816288417 o (1).jpg in 2023]]

Brett is the president and CEO of the New England Council, a position he was appointed to in October 1996.

Advocacy for people with disabilities

Brett, whose brother had intellectual disabilities, has been a longtime advocate for people with disabilities.{{cite web |title=A new outlet for Jim Brett's lifelong passion - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/06/01/new-outlet-for-jim-brett-lifelong-passion/TDSJS1Ysdo8OdLolqKZ7EN/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=9 August 2023 |date=June 1, 2016}}

President George W. Bush appointed Brett to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities,{{cite web |title=Dorchester's James T. Brett named Chairman of the President's Committee for People with Disabilities |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2022/dorchester-s-james-t-brett-named-chairman-president-s-committee-people |website=www.dotnews.com |publisher=Dorchester Reporter |access-date=9 August 2023 |language=en |date=June 23, 2022}} with Brett serving from 2002 into 2006.{{cite web |last1=Blessing |first1=Kiera |title=James T. Brett named again to President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/07/07/james-brett-named-again-president-committee-for-people-with-intellectual-disabilities/8UDeCQi3HMj8wseZxsiBNN/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=9 August 2023 |date=July 8, 2014}} In May 2011, President Barack Obama named Brett the committee's chairman.{{cite news|last=Lotan|first=Gal Tziperman|title=Brett gets the call from White House|url=http://www.dotnews.com/2011/brett-gets-call-white-house|accessdate=June 5, 2011|newspaper=Dorchester Reporter|date=May 19, 2011}} His tenure as chair lasted into 2013. Brett rejoined the committee in 2014, when Obama appointed him to again serve as a member. He continued to serve on the committee into the Trump administration. In March 2022, President Joe Biden named Brett to again serve as a member of the commission.{{cite web |title=President Biden Announces Key Appointments to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/11/president-biden-announces-key-appointments-to-the-presidents-committee-for-people-with-intellectual-disabilities/ |website=The White House |access-date=9 August 2023 |date=11 March 2022}} That June, Biden selected him to again serve as chairman of the committee.{{cite web |title=Brett appointed chair of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities |url=https://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.php?ID=192602 |website=www.thebostonpilot.com |publisher=The Boston Pilot |access-date=9 August 2023 |language=en |date=June 17, 202}} Biden also had Brett travel as part of the official delegation he appointed to represent the United States government at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin.{{cite web |title=Special Olympics helps White House celebrate 33 years of ADA and 50 years of the Rehabilitation Act |url=https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/special-olympics-helps-white-house-celebrate-33-years-of-ada-and-50-years-of-the-rehabilitation-act |website=SpecialOlympics.org |access-date=15 May 2025 |language=en |date=10 October 2023}}

On May 12, 2016, the U.S. House of Representatives appointed Brett to the National Council on Disability,{{cite web |last1=Forry |first1=Edd |title=Éire Society hosts Gold Medal dinner April 7; awards Jim Brett |url=https://www.bostonirish.com/around-town/2018/james-t-brett-be-presented-gold-medal-éire-society-boston |website=Boston Irish |date=February 8, 2018 |access-date=9 August 2023 |language=en }}{{cite web |title=James Brett of Massachusetts Appointed to the National Council on Disability by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi |url=https://www.ncd.gov/2016/05/20/james-brett-of-massachusetts-appointed-to-the-national-council-on-disability-by-democratic-leader-nancy-pelosi |website=National Council on Disability |language=en |date=May 20, 2016}} with Brett being nominated by Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. During part of his tenure, Brett has been the council's vice chairman.{{cite web |title=NCD announces new Chairman Andrés Gallegos |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ncd-announces-chairman-andr-gallegos-164800275.html |website=Yahoo Finance |agency=Globe Newswire |access-date=9 August 2023 |date=22 January 2021}}

Brett has also served as chair of the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission, the Massachusetts Intellectual Disability Commission,{{cite web |last1=Staff |first1=South Boston Today |title=Jim Brett Appointed To The National Council On Disability |url=https://www.southbostontoday.com/jim-brett-appointed-to-the-national-council-on-disability/ |website=South Boston Today |access-date=9 August 2023 |date=30 May 2019}} and chair of the Massachusetts' Governor’s Commission on Intellectual Disability.

Other work

Brett formerly served as the president of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health.{{cite web |title=The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) |url=https://acl.gov/programs/empowering-advocacy/presidents-committee-people#:~:text=In%201966%2C%20President%20Lyndon%20B,for%20people%20with%20intellectual%20disabilities. |website=acl.gov |publisher=Administration for Community Living |access-date=10 August 2023 |language=en}} Brett as served on the advisory councils of the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps and the New England Center for Children.{{cite web |title=President To Appoint Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities |url=https://abilitymagazine.com/Committee-People-w-Intellectual-Disabilities.html |website=Ability Magazine |access-date=10 August 2023 |date=2022}} {{As of|2024}} he was a current trustee of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum,{{cite web |title=Business 100 - 2024: James Brett |url=https://www.irishamerica.com/honoree/james-brett |website=Irish America Magazine |access-date=15 May 2025}} which he has served on for many years. He also served on the board of trustees of St. John’s Seminary{{cite web |title=James Brett |url=https://www.bostonfed.org/people/bank/james-brett.aspx |website=Federal Reserve Bank of Boston |access-date=15 May 2025 |language=en |date=27 June 2018}} and the advisory board of the Irish International Immigrant Center.{{cite web |title=James T. Brett to Receive Gold Medal From Eire Society of Boston |url=https://www.southbostontoday.com/james-t-brett-to-receive-gold-medal-from-eire-society-of-boston |website=South Boston Today |access-date=15 May 2025 |date=9 March 2018}}

Brett served as the co-host of D.C. Dialogue, a public affairs program broadcast monthly on New England Cable News.

Recognition

{{As of|2024}}, Brett has received a total of nineteen honorary degrees.

This includes an honorary doctorate from Beacon College,{{Cite web|title=James Brett receives honorary doctorate from Beacon College |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2019/james-brett-receives-honorary-doctorate-beacon-college|access-date=2021-10-21|website=www.dotnews.com|language=en}} and honorary degrees from Franklin Pierce University and Merrimack College.

In 2018, the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health awarded Brett the Michael and Kitty Dukakis Lifetime Achievement Award.{{cite web |title=James T. Brett Receives MAMH Lifetime Achievement Award |url=https://www.southbostontoday.com/james-t-brett-receives-mamh-lifetime-achievement-award/ |website=South Boston Today |access-date=10 August 2023 |date=30 June 2018}} In 2023, Brett was the first-ever recipient of the Cultural Centre of Greater Boston's Brian J Donnelly Award.{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Martha |title=Irish American politician to receive inaugural Brian Donnelly award in Boston |url=https://www.irishstar.com/news/boston-news/irish-american-politician-james-brett-30418507 |website=Irish Star |access-date=9 August 2023 |language=en |date=7 July 2023}} Brett has also received Action for Boston Community Development’s Lifetime Public Service Award, Massachusetts Special Olympics' Distinguished Leadership Award, and Hospice of Boston's Humanitarian of the Year Award, and in 2014 was bestowed the Disability Law Center's Edward M. Kennedy Leadership Award.

In 1996, in honor of Brett, Bay Cove Human Services of Boston named a community home serving disabled adults "Brett House".{{cite web |last1=Galvin |first1=Nancy |title=Disability Advocate & New England Council CEO Jim Brett |url=https://www.planofma-ri.org/disability-advocate-new-england-council-ceo-jim-brett |website=PLAN of MA and RI |date=27 November 2023}} In 2021, EP Magazine (formerly Exceptional Parent Magazine) named Brett to the "50 for 50 Advocate Heroes" list compiled for the publication's 50th anniversary.{{cite web |title="50 for 50: Congratulations and Thank You, EP Magazine Advocate Heroes!" {{!}} EP Magazine |url=https://www.epmagazine.com/blog/50-for-50-congratulations-and-thank-you-ep-magazine-advocate-heroes |website=EP Magazine |access-date=10 August 2023 |date=June 2021}} In 2013, the University of Massachusetts Boston established an endowed chair named for Brett. The James T. Brett Chair in Disability and Workforce Development is the only endowed chair in disability and workforce development in the United States,{{cite web |title=Commencements this week: First up is Graduate School, feat. James Brett, New England Council President and CEO, as commencement speaker |url=https://www.nichols.edu/news/commencements-first-graduate-school-james-brett/ |website=Nichols College |access-date=9 August 2023 |date=May 1, 2023}} the nation's only endowed chair for disability and workforce development. In 2014, he was inducted into the Special Olympics Massachusetts Hall of Fame.

Brett has received numerous honors recognizing him as a successful member of the Irish American community and the global Irish diaspora. The Central Remedial Clinic of Dublin, Ireland bestowed Brett with an "Appreciation Award" in 1991, and with its "Irish Person of the Year" honor in 1994. In 1991, Brett received the "John Boyle O'Reilly Award" from the New England chapter of the Irish American Labor Coalition. In 1993, Brett received the "Irishman of the Year" honor from Friends of the Kennedy Library. Irishman of the Year award. In 1994, Brett received a "Man of Year" award from the Boston Police Department Emerald Society. Irish America magazine has named Brett to its "Business 100" in years such as 2005,{{cite web |title=Jim Brett named to Top 100 list |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/news/jim-brett-named-to-top-100-list/27524498.html |website=Irish Independent |access-date=15 May 2025 |language=en |date=23 November 2005}} 2007,{{cite web |title=Jim Brett Named In Top 100 List |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/news/jim-brett-named-in-top-100-list/27531452.html |website=Irish Independent |access-date=15 May 2025 |language=en |date=27 March 2007}} 2023,{{cite web |title=Business 100 - 2023: James T. Brett |url=https://www.irishamerica.com/honoree/james-t-brett/ |website=Irish America magazine |access-date=15 May 2025 |date=2023}} and 2024. In 2018, the Éire Society of Boston presented its Gold Medal award to Brett. He has also received honors from the Charitable Irish Society of Boston, Sligo Association of Boston, and Boston Irish Business Association.

Brett has been bestowed with papal honors, having been named a Knight of Malta and Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Electoral history

=Boston City Council=

class=wikitable

!colspan=5|1979 Boston City Council election

colspan=1 rowspan=2 |Candidates

!colspan=2 |Preliminary election{{cite book|title=Annual Report of the Election Department|year=1980|pages=59|publisher=Boston [Election Dept.]|url=https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbo1979bost/page/58/mode/2up?view=theater}}

!colspan=2 |General election{{cite book|title=Annual Report of the Election Department|year=1980|pages=94|publisher=Boston [Election Dept.]|url=https://archive.org/details/annualreportofbo1979bost/page/94/mode/2up?view=theater}}

Votes

! %

!Votes

! %

Lawrence DiCara (incumbent)

| align="right" | 42,339

| align="right" | 6.50

| align="right" | 69,102

| align="right" | 8.15

Christopher A. Iannella (incumbent)

| align="right" | 45,184

| align="right" | 6.94

| align="right" | 69,069

| align="right" | 8.15

Raymond Flynn (incumbent)

| align="right" | 45,648

| align="right" | 7.01

| align="right" | 66,662

| align="right" | 7.86

Frederick C. Langone (incumbent)

| align="right" | 48,063

| align="right" | 7.38

| align="right" | 64,873

| align="right" | 7.65

Dapper O'Neil (incumbent)'

| align="right" | 48,781

| align="right" | 7.49

| align="right" | 60,846

| align="right" | 7.17

Joseph M. Tierney (incumbent)

| align="right" | 43,759

| align="right" | 6.72

| align="right" | 58,674

| align="right" | 6.92

John W. Sears

| align="right" | 41,108

| align="right" | 6.31

| align="right" | 58,205

| align="right" | 6.87

Rosmarie E. Sansone (incumbent)

| align="right" | 46,391

| align="right" | 7.12

| align="right" | 57,552

| align="right" | 6.79

Patrick F. McDonough (incumbent)

| align="right" | 34,646

| align="right" | 5.32

| align="right" | 55,123

| align="right" | 6.50

Louise Day Hicks (incumbent)

| align="right" | 44,659

| align="right" | 6.86

| align="right" | 54,714

| align="right" | 6.45

James T. Brett

| align="right" | 34,941

| align="right" | 5.37

| align="right" | 51,767

| align="right" | 6.11

Terence P. McDermott

| align="right" | 30,124

| align="right" | 4.63

| align="right" | 39,882

| align="right" | 4.70

Barbara A. Ware

| align="right" | 19,519

| align="right" | 2.30

| align="right" | 33,951

| align="right" | 4.01

Stephen C. Farrell

| align="right" | 20,173

| align="right" | 3.10

| align="right" | 27,038

| align="right" | 3.19

Charles Yancey

| align="right" | 14,487

| align="right" | 2.22

| align="right" | 22,301

| align="right" | 2.63

Edward Brooks

| align="right" | 19,772

| align="right" | 3.04

| align="right" | 24,165

| align="right" | 2.85

Richard M. Lane

| align="right" | 17,424

| align="right" | 2.68

| align="right" | 17,771

| align="right" | 2.10

David Joseph McKay

| align="right" | 12,873

| align="right" | 1.98

| align="right" | 15,981

| align="right" | 1.89

Jeannette L. Tracy

| align="right" | 11,711

| align="right" | 1.80

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Phyllis Igoe

| align="right" | 9,205

| align="right" | 1.41

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Stephen Michael Cidlevich

| align="right" | 8,645

| align="right" | 1.33

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Eugene A. Cavicchi

| align="right" | 6,626

| align="right" | 1.02

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Peter K. Hadley

| align="right" | 5,187

| align="right" | 0.80

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

===Massachusetts House===

;1981

{{Election box begin no change | title=1981 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district special Democratic primary{{cite web |title=PD43+ » 1981 State Representative Special Democratic Primary 14th Suffolk District |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/106295/ |website=electionstats.state.ma.us |publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |access-date=June 28, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett

| votes = 1,322

| percentage = 19.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James W. Hunt Jr.

| votes = 989

| percentage = 14.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Michael J. Traft

| votes = 781

| percentage = 11.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Ronald MacGillivray

| votes = 679

| percentage = 10.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Robert M. Sullivan

| votes = 616

| percentage = 9.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul J. Harrington

| votes = 575

| percentage = 8.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Stephen J. Graham

| votes = 500

| percentage = 7.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Daniel Fitzgerald

| votes = 449

| percentage = 6.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James B. McDonough

| votes = 313

| percentage = 4.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = William Fleming

| votes = 247

| percentage = 3.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul D. Seaver

| votes = 210

| percentage = 3.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Maria Waldron

| votes = 68

| percentage = 1.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = write-in

| candidate = scattering

| votes = 2

| percentage = 0.03

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 6752

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1981 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district special election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett

| votes = 2,095

| percentage = 73.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Karen L. MacNutt

| votes = 668

| percentage = 23.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = independent

| candidate = Franklin H. Chassen

| votes = 105

| percentage = 3.7

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2749

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;1982

{{Election box begin no change | title=1982 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district Democratic primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 5242

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 5242

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1982 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district general election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 6309

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 6309

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;1984

{{Election box begin no change | title=1984 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district Democratic primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 4350

| percentage = 88.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = William J. Curran

| votes = 565

| percentage = 11.5

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4915

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1984 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district general election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 8604

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 8604

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;1986

{{Election box begin no change | title=1986 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district Democratic primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 4282

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4282

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1986 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district general election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 5989

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 5989

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;1990

{{Election box begin no change | title=1990 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district Democratic primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 5920

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 5920

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1990 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district general election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 8182

| percentage = 75.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Michael Trzcinski

| votes = 2718

| percentage = 24.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = write-in

| candidate = scattering

| votes = 5

| percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 10905

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;1992

{{Election box begin no change | title=1992 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district Democratic primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 3981

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3981

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1992 Massachusetts House of Representatives 14th Suffolk district Democratic general election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 9411

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 9411

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;1994

{{Election box begin no change | title=1994 Massachusetts House of Representatives 13th Suffolk district Democratic primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 4106

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4106

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1994 Massachusetts House of Representatives 13th Suffolk district Democratic general election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 7666

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = write-in

| candidate = scattering

| votes = 7666

| percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 7668

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

;1996

{{Election box begin no change | title=1996 Massachusetts House of Representatives 13th Suffolk district primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (incumbent)

| votes = 1584

| percentage = 91.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Others

| votes = 144

| percentage = 8.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,728

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1996 Massachusetts House of Representatives 13th Suffolk district general election{{cite web |title=PD43+ » Candidate Profile: James T. Brett (D) |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/candidates/view/James-T-Brett |website=electionstats.state.ma.us |publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |access-date=28 June 2025}}{{cite web |title=PD43+ » 1996 State Representative General Election 13th Suffolk District |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/97880/ |website=electionstats.state.ma.us |publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |access-date=17 July 2023}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett (withdrawn)

| votes = 4145

| percentage = 48.04

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Marty Walsh

| votes = 1,953

| percentage = 22.63

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Charles Tevnan

| votes = 492

| percentage = 9.82

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Others

| votes = 2039

| percentage = 23.63

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 8629

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

=Boston mayor=

class=wikitable

!colspan=5 |1993 Boston mayoral election

colspan=1 rowspan=2 |Candidates

!colspan=2 |Preliminary election{{cite web|title=Election Results|url=http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/search/default.asp|publisher=The City of Boston|access-date=June 5, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907221710/http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/search/default.asp|archive-date=September 7, 2011}}

!colspan=2 |General election

Votes

!%

!Votes

!%

Thomas Menino (acting incumbent)

| align="right" | 30,060

| align="right" | 26.89

| align="right" | 74,448

| align="right" | 64.45

James T. Brett

| align="right" | 25,052

| align="right" | 22.41

| align="right" | 41,052

| align="right" | 35.54

Robert Rufo

| align="right" | 22,517

| align="right" | 20.14

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Rosaria Salerno

| align="right" | 19,605

| align="right" | 17.54

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Bruce Bolling

| align="right" | 6,564

| align="right" | 5.87

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Christopher Lydon

| align="right" | 3,630

| align="right" | 3.25

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Francis Roache

| align="right" | 3,362

| align="right" | 3.01

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

Diane Moriarty

| align="right" | 991

| align="right" | 0.89

| colspan=2 bgcolor= darkgray |

References

{{reflist}}