Taking on Bob Brady

Taking on Bob Brady is no easy task. Not only is he a U.S. Congressman, he's head of the local Democratic Party.

But West Philadelphia resident Tracey Gordon was so angry at the party's attempt to prevent her from becoming a committee person that she filed suit in Philadelphia's Common Pleas Court that aims to force the part to reinstate her.

Gordon, a longtime community activist in her neighborhood, was elected a committee person in May 2010. A month later, at the first meeting of the ward committee after the election, Anna Brown, leader of the 40th ward, read the list of new committee people and did not include Gordon.

The group then passed a resolution removing Gordon from her committee post, citing a party rule that allows that if someone "fails or neglects to work in harmony with the ward committee." Two police officers then escorted Gordon from the meeting.

Gordon believes the vote against her was retribution for her willingness to speak out on various issues. Gordon also said Brown complained that she had not asked for permission to run. Irv Ackelsberg and The American Civil Liberties Union are representing Gordon.

Brady declined comment, and Brown did not immediately return a call.

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