Government
Florida physician will leave Congress
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 11, 2008
Rep. Dave Weldon, MD (R, Fla.), announced Jan. 25 that he would not seek re-election and would return to practicing medicine at the end of the 110th Congress in late 2008.
Dr. Weldon, an internist in Brevard County first elected in 1994, had wrestled with his decision to run during his last couple of campaigns because of the time the job demands away from his family, said his spokesman Jeremy Steffens.
Dr. Weldon never wanted to be a career politician and has no interest in becoming a lobbyist, Steffens said.
At least two Democrats are vying for Dr. Weldon's seat: Nancy Higgs, a former Brevard County commissioner, and Stephen Blythe, DO, a family physician in Melbourne.
A Republican candidate to replace Dr. Weldon had not been chosen as of press time in late January.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/02/11/gvbf0211.htm.
