Wyckoff Democrat launches campaign against Scott Garrett

Josh Gottheimer on Monday compared the policies of Rep. Scott Garrett to a hidden tax on the 5th District of New Jersey. Watch video

NORTHVALE -- Josh Gottheimer on Monday compared the policies of U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett to a hidden tax on the 5^th District of New Jersey.

The Wyckoff Democrat formally launched his campaign against the six-term Republican congressman at Inrad Optics, a Northvale manufacturer.

"Scott Garrett isn't pro-family," Gottheimer said. "He's not pro-business. He's Dr. No. Dr. No to everything, and that hurts families here in New Jersey."

Gottheimer said he would push for business to open in northern New Jersey and work to lower tax rates and simplify the tax code. He highlighted Garrett's votes against the Violence Against Women Act, the Zadroga bill to pay for health care for Sept. 11 first responders and stem cell research.

He also brought up Garrett's reported comments that he wouldn't contribute to a fundraising arm for House Republicans because it supported gay candidates.

"I think we can all agree that these aren't Jersey values," Gottheimer said.

Gottheimer is a former speech writer for President Bill Clinton and worked in corporate strategy for Microsoft. He grew up in North Caldwell and has lived for the past four years in Wyckoff with his wife and two children.

He has $1.3 million in his war chest and outraised Garrett in 2015, but the congressman has $2.4 million banked.

"Every election I've faced an opponent that thinks the best solution to the problems that New Jerseyans face is letting Washington spend their money and tell them what to do," Garrett said in a statement.

Garrett has had little trouble fending off challengers. He beat his last two opponents, Roy Cho and Adam Gussen, by about 13 points.

The 5th District includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex and Warren counties.