Montclair, NJ — Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill officially launched his campaign for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District today in front of the Montclair home where he was raised, surrounded by family, friends, community leaders, and elected officials. A crowd of more than 150 people braved the cold and the pouring rain to show their support for Brendan Gill for Congress.

The event took place at the residence of Dan and Michelle Gill, Brendan’s parents. Dan Gill, a beloved Montclair public school teacher for more than 50 years, and well known for his lifelong commitment to inclusion and equality, introduced his son as a dedicated public servant and someone who is dedicated to improving people’s lives.

Standing on the front steps of his childhood home, Brendan Gill spoke about the lessons he learned growing up in Montclair, and how they guide his vision for a stronger and more affordable New Jersey.

“I was raised in a middle-class family, the son of a public school teacher, and had the opportunity to receive a quality public education,” said Brendan Gill. “It started with that foundation, my own version of the American Dream, and the reason I’m running for Congress is to restore the promise of an affordable place to live, the promise of being able to have mom and dad age in the home they raised our family in, the promise of affordable healthcare, and the promise of opportunity for all.”

Gill was joined by community advocates Melissa Walker, Debra Kagan, and Mitch Heisler, state and local elected officials, including State Senator Britnee Timberlake, Assemblyman Michael Venezia, Assemblywoman Carmen Morales, Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill, Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones, and Montclair Mayor Dr. Renee Baskerville, as well as friends, neighbors, and supporters from across the 11th Congressional District.

Grammy Award Winner Melissa Walker, founder of Jazz House Kids, offered, “Brendan has also been instrumental in securing funding that supports our music education programs and helps us plan for the future. Brendan does this work because he knows the arts are under attack. He wants our young people to have great opportunities, he wants to make sure our arts community remains vibrant, and he wants to make people’s lives better. I can think of no one better to represent us in Congress than my dear friend, Brendan Gill.”

Debra Kagan, longtime Montclair resident and community leader in the field of active transportation and safe streets, explained, “Brendan is a rare elected official who makes our problems his problems, who takes the advocacy personally, who knows all the players personally, and makes connections that deliver results for our communities. He has lived here his whole life, knows these communities like the back of his hand, and has the exact skillset we need in Congress right now.”

Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones highlighted Brendan’s partnership in Essex County by stating, “Our community deserves a voice in Washington, D.C., who understands that safe streets and strong families go hand in hand. Brendan has consistently proven himself to be a true partner to law enforcement and a champion for public safety here in Essex County.  I’m proud to stand with him in this race for Congress.”

Senator Britnee Timberlake praised Gill’s long record of public service and the deep history they have working together.  She remarked, “Right now, we are standing at a time in our history where justice is at stake.  We are standing at a time in our history where we have a dictator in office, and we need to send down courageous leaders who will fight back.  We need to send down leaders who understand what fairness and equity are, and who do not think that diversity, equity, and inclusion are bad words or bad phrases.  We need to send down a leader who is experienced. Brendan knows how Congress works. He knows how state government works. And he knows how the county and municipal governments work.  This is the time to send our best and our brightest, only those who have been soldiers for democracy, and we know that this is Brendan Gill.”  

Assemblyman Michael Venezia, who’s been a longtime friend and colleague, shared, “I know Brendan, living in this house, the son of a teacher and a homemaker, will go to Congress and fight for the working people. As an elected official in Essex County, I have seen firsthand how Brendan works to connect all levels of government – from municipal, to county, to state, to federal.  He never forgets that good government starts at the local level and always puts people and neighborhoods first.”

The announcement marks the beginning of Gill’s campaign to represent New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Essex, Morris, and Passaic Counties. A lifelong Montclair resident, Gill has served as an Essex County Commissioner since 2011, was the architect of Governor Phil Murphy’s historic 2017 campaign, and served as a senior advisor to U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Frank Lautenberg, and Congressmen Bill Pascrell and Steve Rothman.