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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ed Brady advocating for nonpartisan elections to empower independent voters
2:43:41
·
3 min
Ed Brady, a Manhattan resident, veteran, and registered independent, forcefully advocates for nonpartisan elections. He argues the Democratic and Republican parties act as special interests excluding voters like him, and asserts the simple principle that all citizens should vote in all elections, regardless of affiliation, rejecting the need for complex studies. He urges the adoption of nonpartisan elections where affiliation is irrelevant.
- Views the major political parties as special interests hindering direct democracy.
- Argues closed primaries violate the principle that all citizens should vote in all elections.
- Strongly supports nonpartisan elections over partisan primaries (open or closed).
Ed Brady
2:43:41
Mister chairman, fellow commissioners, good evening.
2:43:44
I'm sorry.
2:43:44
Oh, I'm sorry.
2:43:45
My name is Ed Brady.
2:43:46
I reside at 30 East 90 Fifth Street, in Manhattan.
2:43:50
Been there since, '98.
2:43:52
I grew up in the South Bronx.
2:43:55
I am independent.
2:43:57
I've been in independent since 1998.
2:44:00
I've gotten I've gotten signatures on petitions from Augusta to Phoenix, getting referendum on the ballot to open up the political process and also to put independent people the ballot.
2:44:13
I've heard special interest mentioned a number of times, and I'm going to say this, and it is not being disrespect.
2:44:23
The biggest special interest groups in this country are not named Coke or Soros.
2:44:27
It's not the pharmaceuticals or oil and gas.
2:44:30
And since we're here in New York City, it's not even Remedy, the real estate board of.
2:44:35
The two biggest special interest groups in our country are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
2:44:43
These two entities have encased themselves.
2:44:48
They put themselves between the people and the gun.
2:44:52
And what these two entities care about, their reason for existence is to garner position and power.
2:45:01
And, sadly, what they do not care about are the people who voted them into their positions.
2:45:09
This doesn't have a damn thing to do with left, right, liberal conservative.
2:45:14
I have worked with people who wear Che Guevara T shirts and or members of the Christian Coalition.
2:45:21
Now I can sit here and expound things that people from other organizations have stated, initiative and referendum.
2:45:27
Referendum, and recall when I was going back in late sixties.
2:45:31
Term limits, which we do have to some basis here, ease of ballot access.
2:45:38
But to me, the most vital aspect is nonpartisan elections.
2:45:45
You know, mister chairman, I'm a veteran.
2:45:49
I don't say that to be boastful.
2:45:51
I'm not looking
Richard R. Buery Jr.
2:45:51
for
Ed Brady
2:45:51
kudos.
2:45:53
But you mean to tell me that I can't take part in the first round of elections simply because I choose not to have a d or an r after my name, c for conservative, g for green, whatever that may be, all citizens vote in all elections.
2:46:10
We don't need a longitudinal study about this.
2:46:13
We don't need to have dozens of political scientists with PhDs.
2:46:18
Straightforward.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
2:46:19
All
Ed Brady
2:46:19
citizens vote in all elections.
2:46:24
You know, senator, I'm going to take I'm going to you you said something.
2:46:30
If you wanna change something, you know, you go to the ballot box and you change it.
2:46:33
Well, with all due respect, ma'am, I can't do that simply because I choose not to have a designation after my name.
2:46:40
So how are we going to allow everybody to take part of the process?
2:46:44
It's a simple matter.
2:46:46
This is in brain surgery.
2:46:48
Thank you very much for your time.
2:46:50
Thank you so much.