Politics & Government

Celebrity Englewood Rabbi Enters 9th District Congressional Race

Rabbi and two other Bergen Republicans look to face Rothman or Pascrell.

Three Republicans, including an Englewood rabbi, are seeking the GOP nomination to run in the new 9th Congressional District.

The three are vying for a chance to compete against Rep. Steve Rothman or Rep. Bill Pascrell, both Democrats, are engaged in . 

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a talk show host and author of books including “Kosher Jesus” and “Kosher Sex,” told Bergen’s Republican Organization he wants to be the nominee, according to a report on politickernj.com. The congressional run is Boteach’s first bid for public office.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Boteach and Rothman, a former Englewood mayor, were among a group that worked to prevent former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi from setting up camp in the city.

Blase Billack and Bruce Wrede, both Saddle Brook residents, are also seeking the Republican nomination, northjersey.com reported.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Billack is an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at St. John’s University.

“I cannot just sit back anymore and passively accept the failure of our government to represent us, our needs and our values,” Billack said on his campaign website.

Wrede is a senior technician at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, according to northjersey.com. He ran unsuccessfully for Saddle Brook council and was an aide to former State Sen. Louis Kosco.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here