Interfaith Coalition defends Scott Singer after Dan Franzese slams attendance at 2019 mosque event

The Boca Raton Interfaith Clergy Association (BRICA) is rebuking Republican congressional candidate Dan Franzese over political attacks on GOP Primary opponent Scott Singer. Both are candidates in Florida’s 25th Congressional District.

“We are disturbed about the false narrative being spread by political candidate Dan Franzese, who is running for U.S. Congress and sent a mailer saying that an attendee of one of our interfaith events did not support Judeo-Christian values,” a joint statement from BRICA leaders states.

The strong pushback from faith leaders came after Franzese on his social media attacked Singer for attending a meeting at a local mosque when he was Mayor of Boca Raton. Similar attacks have appeared in campaign literature, according to BRICA.

“Scott Singer’s record speaks for itself, and it does not align with our conservative values,” Franzese wrote. “As Mayor, he signed an official City of Boca Raton proclamation honoring a mosque with historic ties to Al Qaeda. FL-25 needs a leader with strong conservative judgment, not an insider who panders for political optics.”

The event in question was an interfaith conference convened in the South Florida city in the wake of mass shootings at a New Zealand mosque by White supremacists, which took place months after a similar summit following a mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pennsylvania by a man hurling anti-Jew slurs. At the time, WPBF reported that Singer spoke against hate-based violence.

“It’s love that drives out hate and while bigotry will exist, the more we can do to speak out against bigotry and hatred in all its forms, the lesser its impact,” Singer said at the event.

BRICA leaders said they were shocked to see Singer’s participation mischaracterized.

“Mr. Franzese’s mailer said that Mayor Singer did not ‘support Judeo-Christian values’ because he attended this event, where he spoke about public safety. If someone’s values are to be questioned for mere attendance at this event, then Mr. Franzese is also attacking the values of the clergy who led the event,” reads a BRICA statement co-signed by B’nai Torah Congregation Senior Rabbi David Steinhardt and St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church Rector and Pastor Andrew Sherman.

“We have had the privilege of working alongside Scott Singer throughout his years of public service, and we have witnessed firsthand his unwavering respect for people of faith and the important role that faith-based organizations play in strengthening our community.”

Franzese has also questioned proclamations issued by Singer as Mayor that recognized Muslim American Heritage Day. Of course, Singer also issued similar proclamations for Jewish American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and the anniversary of the Boca Raton Community Church. Singer allies slammed the singling out of the Muslim proclamation as both divisive and despicable.

“Dan Franzese crossed a line,” Singer said.

“Campaigns should be about ideas, leadership, and competing visions for the future — not false attacks that smear respected faith leaders and divide our community. I am grateful to Rabbi David Steinhardt, Father Andrew Sherman, and the Boca Raton Interfaith Clergy Association for setting the record straight. Throughout my time in public service, we’ve worked alongside faith leaders of every background to strengthen our community, support religious liberty, and keep Boca Raton a safe place for every family. That’s exactly the kind of leadership I’ll continue to bring to Congress.”

Franzese and Singer face each other in an Aug. 18 Republican Primary, where Raven Harrison, Joe Kaufman and George Moraitis are also competing for the GOP nomination in CD 25. The winner will face either incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Parkland Democrat, or Oliver Larkin. Libertarian candidate Peter Jassenoff and write-in candidate Michaelangelo Hamilton are also running.

BRICA leaders said the messaging from Franzese not only mischaracterized Singer’s record but showed his own failure to understand the wider Boca Raton faith community.

“Mr. Franzese apparently has little knowledge of our work and the community. BRICA is a group of ministers, priests, rabbis, and other clergy from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions. We have worked together for over 20 years, deepening interfaith understanding and serving our community.”

The statement said voters should demand a higher level of community conversation, something the interfaith coalition has pursued in its own work.

“Disagreement is part of every election, and vigorous debate is healthy in a democracy. But there is a difference between debating policy and spreading falsehoods about a person’s character and deeply held values,” the joint statement reads.

“It is disappointing to see political attacks attempt to rewrite a record that so many of us have witnessed firsthand and to have criticism of the faith leaders and congregations from someone who does not know us, our congregants, or our community. As pastors and faith leaders, we believe truth matters. We encourage our fellow citizens to judge public servants by their record — not by misleading rhetoric or false accusations.”