Finally got the chance to open up the console and look at the problem - it was a 10 cent repair - only, I made 10 cents by fixing it! Somehow, some way, an errant dime had found its way under my console and under the e-brake switch shorting it to the chassis - which turned on the brake light. How in the hell that happened, I'll never know! With the brake handle all the way down, it pressed the switch (which activates the light) down onto the dime and created a ground which turned on the light. Go figure!