A variety of South Florida news sources are reporting that South Florida Democratic Representative Robert Wexler, one of the state's most beloved liberals, will announce today that he is stepping down from his seat to become director of a Mid East think tank called the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.
There are plenty of willing candidates in the Palm Beach/Broward area that want to replace Wexler – but the author of "Fire Breathing Liberal: How I Learned to Survive (and Thrive) In the Contact Sport of Congress" will be missed.
For many observers nationally, Wexler became known as a ferocious supporter of Bill Clinton during the Impeachment hearings in the House of Representatives in 1998. For those who thought Congress was making a huge mistake, his voice (along with a few others, like Barney Frank) articulated the thoughts that the this was partisanship run seriously amok.
Wexler also stood out early last year as one of the most prominent Democrats to support Barack Obama in his uphill battle to try to win Florida in the Presidential election. He also was considered a key ally in allaying the fears of some Jewish organizations that Obama would not be good for Israel (and despite much blather in the media, Obama is still faring well with that demographic).
Wexler is also good friends with Charlie Crist. That alliance has been a source of frustration amongst some Palm Beach County Republicans, who wish he would have campaigned for his opponent in Wexler's Congressional campaign last year.
Governor Crist will need to call for a special election to replace Wexler.
This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2009.