Wexler to leave Congress for “public policy” job, Democratic sources say
by George Bennett | October 13th, 2009
Wexler U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, will resign from Congress to take a “public policy position,” several Democratic sources said today.
“He called. He is going to resign….He told me that he is moving on. Beyond that, I don’t have any any answers,” said state Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Coral Springs. Ring said he is considering running in the special election to replace Wexler.
Another Wexler confidant, Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson, said he talked to Wexler this afternoon and Wexler “said he had to do what he had to do for his family.” Wexler didn’t specifically say he would resign, Aaronson said, but by “putting two and two together” he concluded Wexler is leaving office.
Another Democratic insider said Wexler is considering a position related to Middle East policy. It wasn’t immediately clear if the post was inside or outside government.
Wexler’s office would not comment, but said the seven-term congressman would discuss his future plans with reporters Wednesday morning in Boca Raton.
If Wexler leaves before the end of his term, a special election would fill his overwhelmingly Democratic Palm Beach-Broward seat. In addition to Ring, potential candidates to replace Wexler include state Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel and former Broward County Commissioner Ben Graber.
“I spoke to Congressman Wexler today but Congressman Wexler’s been a leader of our community for 20 years and I think we deserve to let him speak for himself tomorrow,” Deutch said.
Wexler was a key early supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, endorsing Obama in early 2007 when most of the Florida Democratic establishment backed Hillary Clinton for president. From the moment Obama was elected, rumors swirled that Wexler might be in line for an appointment in the Obama administration.
Wexler downplayed such talk in November, saying he wasn’t interested in leaving Congress.
“I have a dream job. A job I love. I could not be happier. And I am not looking for any change in that regard,” Wexler said at the time.
Self-described “fire-breathing liberal” Wexler was elected in 1996 and has not faced a serious reelection challenge since. Even last year, after his residency became an issue — Wexler lives with his family in Maryland and was using his in-laws’ address to establish Florida residency — Wexler won a seventh term with 66.2 percent.
“Wexler won a seventh term with 66.2 percent. “
Ah! His (outrageous) pension is fully vested. Time to double dip .
God that communist should be in prison!!!
Please, God, let it be as a suicide bomber...
IIRC, this was the cheapskate who had a highly desirable bay front home in Maryland...and was claiming the MD Homestead Tax Credit. That’s right, a FL congressman was claiming his primary residence as a mega-home on Maryland’s shoreline.
Think there was another congress critter up to the same tricks.
Lord knows as a City of Rockville resident in the PR of Montgomery County, our income and property taxes are through the roof. Don’t need to subsidize any reverse carpetbaggers.
Wexler is Jewish, Boca is Jewish....he could KILL a person and they would STILL elect him.
The only thing worse would be if Frankel went for his seat.