Wexler: resigning in January

The Boca Raton Democrat and self-described “fire-breathing liberal” confirmed he will resign in January to become president of the nonprofit Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.

S. Daniel Abraham

Wexler’s early support of Barack Obama’s presidential bid fueled speculation he might be in line for an Obama administration appointment. But Wexler said he never had any serious talks about such a job.

Known for his high-decibel speeches on the floor of Congress or the clubhouse of a retirement condo, Wexler’s eyes were moist and his voice quavered at times as he discussed his “bittersweet” decision to leave Congress.

He said he “wrestled” with its timing but concluded “we are at a pivotal point in the Middle East peace process. Both the Israeli leaders and the Palestinian leaders as well as the leaders of the broader Arab world in my view have a six- to nine-month window to create the momentum that President Obama has outlined to move towards a comprehensive peace initiative.”

He added: “I believe time is of the urgency. Absolutely. We do not have the luxury to wait.”

With political corruption scandals swirling in South Florida, Wexler said there was no hidden significance to his resignation.

“Let me say this once: I am not under any investigation. My marriage is intact. My health is good and thank God the health of my family is good,” Wexler said.

“I am leaving to become the president of the Center for Middle East Peace. It may not be as sexy as some other things,” Wexler said.

Wexler wouldn’t disclose his new salary, but said it would be more than the $174,000 he gets as a member of Congress.

Wexler’s last financial disclosure report listed liabilities of between $40,003 and $115,000 in credit card debt and between $50,001 and $100,000 in student loans for his daughter’s college tuition. He also has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school.

“One of the certainly positive aspects of the position I’m taking is the degree of financial security that my family has not previously enjoyed,” Wexler said.

Wexler’s first political victory came in a 1990 state Senate race. After six years in the state legislature, he was elected to Congress in 1996 and never faced a serious reelection challenge.

But an emotional Wexler this morning recalled his unsuccessful 1988 race for a county commission seat and his campaigning in retirement condos filled with World War II and Korean War veterans and people who had survived the Great Depression.

“I learned politics from those very people. When I started in politics in Palm Beach County, which was in 1987, I started on the couches of people who lived in Century Village in West Palm Beach, in Cresthaven in Lake Worth, in Kings Point in Delray Beach,” Wexler said.

“In my 19 years of service in the state Senate and the Congress, I never forgot who sent me there.”

Wexler’s outspoken liberalism has made him a polarizing figure. But he said he hoped foes would acknowledge his sincerity.

“The one thing I hope both my friends and even my opponents will say about me is I never shied away from doing what I thought was in the best interests of my constituents and my community,” he said.

“Whether someone agreed with me or not, I never sat on the sidelines. I got into the fray and I fought for freedom and liberty and justice and the constitution and peoples’ right to vote. And I defended the extraordinary privilege that all of us have of being a citizen of the most amazing country on the face of this Earth.”

Tags: Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation, S. Daniel Abraham

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 3:57 pm and is filed under George Bennett, Robert Wexler, U.S. House. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.