Rep. Wexler says he'll resign in January
Posted by Eugene Kiely at 03:34 PM/ET, October 14, 2009
Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., shocked political observers by saying he will resign from the House in January to become president at the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation in Washington. He made the announcement at a news conference this morning in Boca Raton, Fla., although word of it leaked out last night.
“Those who know me, and those who have followed my career know that one of my overriding passions has been my work on the Foreign Affairs Committee helping to strengthen and preserve the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel, and working toward a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” said Wexler, who represents Florida’s 19th District.
The center’s founder and chairman, Daniel Abraham, said in a statement on the center’s website, “This is a great day for the center and for those who work to achieve Middle East peace. Robert will hit the ground running and employ his skill and vision to help us achieve the peace that Israelis and Arabs seek,” Abraham said.
The 48-year-old congressman easily won re-election to his seventh term in 2008 with 66.2% of the vote, and was likely to easily win re-election again. His resignation leaves a vacancy on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Wexler had $1,033,488 cash on hand and owed $8,305 in debts as of June 30m, according to CQ MoneyLine.
His replacement will be picked by a special election in the district, which covers parts of Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
(Reported by Andrew Seaman)
Link
Posted by Eugene Kiely at 03:34 PM/ET, October 14, 2009
Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., shocked political observers by saying he will resign from the House in January to become president at the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation in Washington. He made the announcement at a news conference this morning in Boca Raton, Fla., although word of it leaked out last night.
“Those who know me, and those who have followed my career know that one of my overriding passions has been my work on the Foreign Affairs Committee helping to strengthen and preserve the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel, and working toward a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” said Wexler, who represents Florida’s 19th District.
The center’s founder and chairman, Daniel Abraham, said in a statement on the center’s website, “This is a great day for the center and for those who work to achieve Middle East peace. Robert will hit the ground running and employ his skill and vision to help us achieve the peace that Israelis and Arabs seek,” Abraham said.
The 48-year-old congressman easily won re-election to his seventh term in 2008 with 66.2% of the vote, and was likely to easily win re-election again. His resignation leaves a vacancy on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Wexler had $1,033,488 cash on hand and owed $8,305 in debts as of June 30m, according to CQ MoneyLine.
His replacement will be picked by a special election in the district, which covers parts of Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
(Reported by Andrew Seaman)
Link