James T. Brett (born December 22, 1949, Boston)[1] is an American former politician who is the current president and CEO of The New England Council.

Brett grew up in Savin Hill as one of six siblings, the eldest of whom, Jack, was born with an intellectual disability and died in 2010.

In high school, Brett participated in a federal TRIO program called Upward Bound, which works with students to prepare them for college.

He finished second in the nonpartisan primary, but lost in the general election to Acting Mayor Thomas Menino.

[10] In March 2022, President Joe Biden named Brett to again serve as a member of the commission.

[15] Brett formerly served as the president of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health.

Dialogue, a public affairs program broadcast monthly on New England Cable News.

[19] In 2023, Brett was the first-ever recipient of the Cultural Centre of Greater Boston's Brian J Donnelly Award.