Rep Albert Wynn (D-Dist 4) has decided to check out of Congress in June, five months before the general election.
“It is time to move into another phase of my life,” Wynn said in a press statement issued Thursday. The lame duck, who lost his re-election bid in the Democratic primary to Donna Edwards, will instead hook up as a partner with The District law firm Dickstein Shapiro.
Wynn’s focus at the firm will be on legal, legislative and regulatory counseling, according to Dickstein Shapiro’s website. Some of the firm’s clients include energy and pharmaceutical companies, and financial houses like Bear Stearns.
Who takes over the wheel between Wynn’s departure and the new Congress’s first day of business next January is unclear. Wynn’s press statement alluded to a special election this summer that would include Edwards as the Democratic candidate.
“This will not only give her seniority in the incoming Congressional class of ‘09, but more importantly, will allow her to get off to a fast start in serving the citizens of our community,” Wynn said.
The Maryland state board of elections was contacted to confirm a possible special election, though no response has yet been received.
Wynn’s early exit and his loss in February’s primary put to bed a 16-year run in Congress. Lately, he’s been on top of the House’s subcommittee on environment and hazardous materials. He also sits on the House subcommittee on energy and air quality.
The Georgetown Law grad serves parts of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, including some of Silver Spring.
Photos: (top) US Rep Albert Wynn spoke at a town-hall meeting inside Silver Spring’s fire station last fall. (thumbnail) Last spring, Wynn announced his re-election campaign during a press junket on the J2 bus from Bethesda. Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.
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So does Dickstein Shapiro represent the same big pharma companies that Wynn was accused of being closer to than his constituents?
We here won’t be the least sad to see Wynn go. That’s what you get for being in the pockets of corporate big wigs and ignoring your Montgomery County constituents in favor of Prince Georges County.
Cmon, no one thought Wynn was doing anything for years except preparing to line his pockets bigtime, did you?
Ok.. I’ll be the first to admit just how little I know about my congressional district. Largely, due to the fact that these scumbags mucking with the lines so much apparently makes moving 2 blocks WITHIN DTSS change your district… who knew. I sure didn’t when I accidently voted in the wrong district. So, I don’t know a whole lot about wynn. With that disclaimer said, I have BIG issues with out of district (heck, out of state for that matter) interests entirely financing elections. I realize this is a huge problem that spans far more than just our district. But if Donna Edwards is going to represent our district she should be liked enough by people in our district to be funded by people in our district. Just another case of special interests buying congressional votes. As I said, I know little about Wynn or if he was any better – I’m just saying, it certainly hasn’t gotten any better.
Albert Wynn lost touch with voters in his district. He was more focused on raising campaign funds from corporations than the needs of District 4 constituents. He was an early supporter of the war in Iraq and the Bush tax cuts. He clearly abandoned his progressive Democratic roots.
The fact that he is bailing out of Congress before his term expires to work as a full-time lobbyist for a big shot law firm says EVERYTHING about the man’s character. Good riddance.
“The fact that he is bailing out of Congress before his term expires to work as a full-time lobbyist for a big shot law firm says EVERYTHING about the man’s character. Good riddance.”
Repeated because I’m still too speechless with appalledness – there aren’t even words in the dictionary – to express it myself.
The only bad thing is that he was an Obama superdelegate.
Gotta say, dumping your obligations because you lost the election is pretty dishonorable.
If Wynn leaves Congress and Edwards gets his seat, then she will get the superdelegate slot, so it’s a wash for Obama. As an “out of state” donor for Edwards (I grew up in Maryland but live in California now), I think there’s a big difference between raising money from people who have no particular interest at stake but who share the candidate’s values (Edwards), and raising money from PACs and lobbyists who want something from the elected official (Wynn).
Yes, but the special election is at the discretion of the governor… who is a Clinton supporter.
Editor’s note: You mean the Democratic candidacy — possibly the presidency — hang on Wynn’s early departure? All politics truly ARE local. — JD (Mar 28, 2008)
The following website gives good information on the whole Wynn superdelegate issue- http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/03/representative-al-wynn-resigns.html
I hope the governor will do the right thing and call for a special election. If he doesn’t, I’m sure there will be pressure on Wynn to fill out his term so that he can cast his superdelegate vote for Obama.
That’s nuts. As a Maryland taxpayer I have no interest in paying for a special election. Doing the right thing rests in Wynn’s court, not O’Malley’s.
Wynn decided to quit representing the people he was elected to represent.
We the people elected him and we the people live with those consequences.
How that affects the superdelegate count and its significance on the nomination remains to be seen.
The Washington Post editorial on our representative sums it up:
Mr. Wynn’s Ignoble Exit
Don’t let the revolving door hit you on the way out.
Sunday, March 30, 2008; Page B06
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/29/AR2008032901850.html
rb: Yep, that was a good editorial. It really burns me up at we in Wynn’s district are faced with either not having representation until January, at a time when every Democratic vote counts, or having the State spend $2 million. Think of all the crying needs which could be helped with $2,000,000.
Albert Wynn is filth.
Politics is unfortunately about money, and you need money to run a campaign. Wynn’s departure shows exactly where his interest and integrity lie. Donna got her money with small contributions from many people — some not here in the 4th — who don’t stand to get anything from her and to whom she will not have to be beholden. Al had plenty of money to spend and yet Donna won every precinct except two — in one she tied Al, and in one she lost by 9 votes. So in the 4th, the locals did elect her.
Editor’s note: This comment was edited for content. — JD (Apr 1, 2008)