Eileen Brady

Eileen Brady (born 1961) is an American businesswoman who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Portland, Oregon, in 2012.

Early life and career Born in Chicago, Brady was the eldest of five children born to Charles, an attorney and businessman, and Susanne Brady, a Democratic community activist who served on the Evanston city council. Brady graduated from Evanston Township High School and then attended one year at Hampshire College.

In 1995, Brady left Nature's and worked for several technology companies, eventually becoming a vice president at @Once, an email marketing company, in 1999. Brady did not serve as an employee of the chain, which now has 18 stores, but claims to have helped develop its model: blending organic foods with conventional brands on the shelves. In 2001, she joined Ecotrust as vice president of marketing and information services. She left the company in 2005.

Political career In 2007, Governor Ted Kulongoski appointed her to the Oregon Health Fund Board, a panel created by the Oregon state legislature to develop reforms to Oregon's health care system. One panel proposal resulted in legislation that added health care for 85,000 children in the state in 2009.

She considered a run for U.S. Senate in 2008, but decided against it. She competed in the 2012 election for mayor of Portland and finished second runner-up.