David Wildstein will appear at Rider University Oct. 7

David Wildstein, the so-called “mastermind of Bridgegate,” will appear at Rider University on Oct. 7 and discuss his outsized influence in covering politics in New Jersey for the past 20 years.  Wildstein was serving in Gov. Chris Christie’s administration when it became ensnared in the traffic lane closure scandal known as Bridgegate. He has decided to break his silence at Rider University, even though the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent surprise decision to take up an appeal in the Bridgegate case has substantially narrowed what Wildstein can say about the case.  Wildstein has been working in New Jersey politics since 1973. In 2000, he founded the state’s first political news site and is now the editor of New Jersey Globe. He will discuss his outsized influence in covering the inside of politics in New Jersey for the past 20 years and the ramifications of the collapse of print newspaper coverage in the state. “This is going to be a fascinating discussion with someone who has been a major player in state politics for decades,” says Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, which is presenting the event. The Rebovich Institute is dedicated to public service and scholarly analysis of government, public policy, campaigns and elections in New Jersey. It was founded in 2001 by the late Professor David Rebovich (1949–2007).

Today, the Rebovich Institute is a dynamic and creative home where students can network, study and gain practical experience in New Jersey politics. Several other events hosted by the Rebovich Institute will take place at Rider this fall. The trade war between the U.S. and China will take center stage during this year's Hennessy Family Lecture on Capitalism on Oct. 30. The lecture will feature Dr. Michael Pillsbury, the director of the Center for Chinese Strategy, Hudson Institute and the international best-selling author of The Hundred-Year Marathon. On Nov. 13, mayors from the surrounding communities will gather at Rider discuss water quality — the broad subject of the University’s current Shared Read, The Poisoned City by Anna Clark, which tells the story of the water crisis in Flint, Mich.  "An Evening with David Wildstein" is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is requested by visiting An Evening with David Wildstein.