OK - here's an update. I checked all fuses, and nothing was blown. So at that point, I took my bike in to a friend of mine and exceptional Guzzi mechanic, Joe Walano, the Guzzi Doctor (https://www.facebook.com/theguzzidoctor/)
Anyway, the front brake switch had a short, so the system always had the brake lights engaged. It wasn't that the brake lights wouldn't work, but more that the brake lights were always on. When Joe disconnected the front switch, the brake light went back to where it should be (as a tail light with lower brightness) and when he depressed the rear brake lever, the brake light worked properly.
He's getting a replacement part now.
Thanks for all of your help.