Eleven faith leaders today endorsed Benjie Wimberly’s bid to succeed Bill Pascrell, Jr. in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Wimberly, a seven-term assemblyman from Paterson, faces State Sen. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) in a vote set for Thursday night to pick a replacement candidate for Pascrell, who died last week.
Backing Wimberly are: Rev. Dr. Calvin McKinney, the pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Garfield; Rev. Dr. Lester W. Taylor, Jr., the senior pastor of the Community Baptist Church of Englewood; Rev. Dr. Randall M. Lassiter, the senior pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Paterson; Rev. Barry Graham, the pastor at the Canaan Baptist Church in Paterson; Rev. James Kuykendall, the pastor of the Agape Christian Ministries Church in Paterson and the chaplain of the Paterson Police Department; Rev. Michael McDuffie, the former chairman of the Paterson Housing Authority; Rev. William Cash, the pastor of the Life Changing Word Church International in Haledon; Imam A. Quddoos Farra’d, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic; Pastor Jerry Wilder, the senior pastor of the Grace and Restoration Fellowship Church in Paterson; Pastor Linda Stancil, the pastor at the Rehoboth Church of Christ in Paterson; and Pastor Frederick LaGarde, Jr., the pastor of the Community Baptist Church of Love in Paterson.
“For many years, Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly and I discussed his ascension to the congressional seat when the time was right, and we are now at such a time. His leadership in Paterson and the greater community speaks measurably to his character, his integrity and his faith,” said McKinney. “He is well equipped; he has stood out amongst high-ranking officials.”
Lassiter called Wimberly “an advocate for the voiceless and a friend to the marginalized and Champion for children.”
“Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly has a resume of lifetime service. He has blessed and represented his community, his county, and this state with honor,” Lassiter stated. “He would represent us in Washington with character and wisdom, that’s why I am happy to support him.”
Wimberly noted that “faith leaders know first hand the very many needs of communities and its families.”
“I am humbled to receive the outpouring of support from the faith leaders of our community. For decades we have worked side by side lifting up our community, especially our youth,” he said. “Together we will continue to ensure our communities are strong and that families will thrive.”