U.S. Rep. Wexler to resign for post at nonprofit
BOCA RATON (AP) – U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler said Wednesday he will leave Congress in January to take a position as president of the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation.
Wexler, a Florida Democrat who was elected to his congressional seat in 1996, announced his plans to reporters at his Boca Raton office. The seven-term congressman said he cherished the opportunity to serve Floridians and never forgot those who put him in office.
“The one thing I hope both my friends and my opponents will say about me is that I never shied away from doing what I thought was in the best interests of my constituents and my community, whether someone agreed with me or not,” Wexler said. “I never sat on the sidelines. I got into the fray.”
Because Wexler will leave office before his term is scheduled to end, Gov. Charlie Crist will call a special election for the seat that represents Florida’s 19th district, which covers parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties.
“My one regret is that I will be unable to complete my current term in office, but I truly believe there is no time to waste,” Wexler said, reading from a statement. “We are at a unique and critically tense moment in the history of the Middle East, with both significant opportunities to succeed in the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as major challenges involving Iran, Hamas and al-Qaida.”
The 48-year-old Wexler, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, backed President Barack Obama during the 2008 campaign and was one of his chief surrogates before Jewish audiences.