Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics

SC House of Representatives, District 78 (R)

Representative Joan Brady is serving a fourth term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.  She is a member of the prestigious House, Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee and chairs the Insurance sub-committee.  Rep. Brady has the distinction on serving as vice-chair of both the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children and the Joint Committee to Screen Candidates for Boards of Trustees to State Colleges and Universities.  She serves as Secretary of the House Ethics Committee, and is a Majority Whip.

A strong advocate for South Carolina’s children and families, Rep. Brady has traveled the state this year attending public hearings gathering information on the status of children.  Her legislative accomplishments on behalf of children, especially foster care reform, were recently recognized as a recipient of the first annual Richland County CASA - “Champions for Children Award.

 Rep. Brady has sponsored numerous business initiatives and in 2010 received the “Knowledge Economist” award sponsored by the SC Research Authority.  Her continued commitment to environmental issues, earned Rep. Brady the second annual “Green Tie” Award from the South Carolina Conservation Voters.

Rep. Brady’s sponsored legislation has had a positive impact on the quality of life and safety of South Carolina’s citizens.  Her legislative accomplishments include; the Sex Offender Residency Restriction Act; the Responsible Father’s Registry; and the SC Energy and Efficiency Act.

Nationally, Rep. Brady serves on the Board of Directors of Women In Government and several legislative Task Forces.  She is former chair of the SC General Assembly Women’s Caucus and the Republican Legislative Women’s Caucus.

Prior to serving in the SC House of Representatives, Rep. Brady was Vice-Chair of Richland County Council and Mayor of the Town of Arcadia Lakes, where she resides with her family.
 
Here are Rep. Brady's answers to some questions posed by the Institute.

Has political office been a life long goal/dream of yours?

Politics has always been intriguing to me, so I choose a strategic path to the statehouse. I wanted to learn the political process on all levels. By serving as a small town mayor, and vice-Chair of Richland County Council I gained the confidence to run for the House of Representatives.

Tell us something your friends would be surprised to learn about you?

I have always been socially shy. It has taken great practice for me to confidently reach out my hand to strangers and say, "please vote for me."

SC would be a better place if only...

We had a comprehensive, unified, bi-partisan plan for progress.

What is your leadership style?

Knowledge is power. I strive to be informed and able to articulate the issues.If I can gain my colleagues' respect through my knowledge of an issue, I can gain their support.

Your mother always said...

"Don't pound your fist on the kitchen table and complain unless you are ready to be part of the solution."