About Brian McNamee
Why Politics?
I have always been interested in politics because of the direct impact government has on the quality of community life. Once I saw politicians who were not addressing the needs of my neighborhood I became more involved as an activist and later as a candidate. I observed too many instances where individuals running for political office or who held office did so because they wanted to be someone instead of wanting to do something.
Professional Background
Quincy City Council 2006 to present
City Councillor - Ward 6
The Point Group 2000 - 2001
Plymouth, MA
Consultant
BF McNamee & Co. 1990 - 1999
Quincy, MA
Accountants & Management Consultants
Arthur Young 1988 - 1990
Boston, MA
Audit Senior ESG
Grant Thornton
Boston, MA
Auditor
University of Massachusetts at Boston 1983 - 1986
College of Management
Graduate Research Assistant
Boards
- Board of Advisors - UMass/Boston
College of Management 1989 - 1999 - Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals 2005 - 2006
Affiliations/Organizations
- Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks
- Knights of Columbus #2259
- Rural Lodge AF & AM
- Massachusetts Government Finance Officers Association
- Quincy Historic Society
Achievements
- Distinguished Alumni Service Award 1999
University of Massachusetts at Boston
College of Management - Eleven Successive Appointments District Treasurer
by the South Essex Sewerage District Board of Directors - Quincy City Councillor 4th term
- President, UMass/Boston MBA Association 1985 - 86
- All State Tackle – Defense 1974
Providence Journal Sport's Writers - All State Tackle – Offence 1974
Football Coaches Selection
Education
1975 HS
Saint Raphael Academy
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Christian Brothers
1976 Post Graduate
Tabor Academy
Marion, Massachusetts
1980 BA Political Science
Villanova University
Villanova, Pa
Augustinian Fathers
1986 MBA
University of Massachusetts at Boston
Family
Single, Daughter
Interests
- Politics
- Amateur Radio
- Photography
- Current Events
Favorite Movies
- Captains Courageous
- How Green Was My Valley
- The Third Man
- The Wizard of Oz
Favorite Music Artists/Groups
- The Rolling Stones
- Adele
- Gotye
- ZZ Top
- Frank Sinatra
- John McCormack
Favorite Television Shows
- American Idol
- Dancing with the stars
- ABC Nightline
- Masterpiece Theatre
- The McLaughlin Group
Favorite Author
Stephen Ambrose
Favorite Book(s)
- Band of Brothers
Stephen Ambrose - The Ravens
Christopher Robbins - To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee - To the back of beyond
Sir Fitzroy MacLean - A Man Called Intrepid
William Stevenson - Fundamentals of Government
Schmandt & Steinbicker
Most Admired Persons
Margaret Russell (Mother)
Augustine Miles McNamee (Father)
Other Admired People
- John F. Kennedy
- George Meany
- Anne Frank
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Ronald Reagan
- Tip O’Neill
- Abraham Lincoln
Background Narrative
I grew up as the second of four children in the town of Rumford, a subdivision of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island. My Dad was a physician and my Mom was a nurse. My Mom dedicated all of her energies to my Father and to raising myself, my brother and my two sisters. Despite the busy lives of my parents they always found ways to contribute to the betterment of the Community. My Mother was a strong activist for the Homeless and dedicated countless hours to Saint Anthony House in South Providence. My Father, as a physician, served the Community in a more intimate way by providing comfort and advice to those who were sick or terminally ill. My most enduring memories are of my Mother, an Irish Immigrant. She was an amazing woman and her strength and spirit were the fabric of my family’s life, then and now.
When growing up Rumford was evolving from a farming and industrial community to what would later become a residential/suburban community. It had both a hard industrial quality with tracts of traditional mill town development along Omega Pond and the Seekonk River while also having a more rural influence from the nearby farms of Seekonk Massachusetts. One area in particular best characterized this dramatic juxtaposition of endeavors. On a short stretch of N. Broadway and Newman Avenue there was a saw mill, a Grange Club, and the world famous Rumford Baking Powder factory – from milled pine to prized hen to baked biscuit within a quarter of a mile.
As the industrial development evolved Rumford became the home to suburban factories. Chief among the employers were Bendix Brakes and FRAM Air Filters. Nyman Manufacturing Company (“Nyman”) was also located in Rumford and manufactured the world famous Dixie Cup, the leading wax paper cup. The industrial base changed dramatically over the years with the migration of industries to cheaper labor markets.
I attended the Wilson Elementary School in the industrial neighborhood called Phillipsdale, home of the Washburn Wire Company, leading manufacturers of barbed wire. At the time, this was a very poor part of Rumford with those employed at the mill living in mill housing and trading almost exclusively at a store owned by the mill where credit could be obtained. I later attended the Saint Margaret’s Elementary School on Pawtucket Ave.
When I graduated from College employment opportunities in Rhode Island were scarce. The two largest employers were the State of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Hospital. Employment opportunities and my Mother’s Family who resided in Quincy and Boston encouraged me to come to Quincy upon my graduation from College. I was familiar with Dorchester having spent much time there as a child with my cousins but knew little of Quincy. After being introduced to Quincy by my Uncle I was convinced it was an ideal place to start a career and raise a family. I feel the same way today as I did 30 years ago.
Quincy’s challenge, as I see it, is to make sure “good government” is government that’s good for all and not just a connected few.
Brian McNamee
July 2012