U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the dean of the Florida legislative delegation, will be retiring at the end of her term next year. She began her Washington run in 1989.
The retirement of the first Hispanic woman elected to Congress should be a time for diversity reflection and even impending nostalgia. Instead, Ros-Lehtinen’s announcement is cause for political speculation as usual. As in Democrats have a good chance to pick up a South Florida congressional seat next year.
In addition, it’s also cause for a sigh of relief.
For nearly three decades Ros-Lehtinen, now 64, has been a loutish, counterproductive mouthpiece for the hard line, Cuban exile community. She has been a key player in thwarting U.S.-Cuba rapprochement that would have benefited this country, this state and this Havana-linked city.
Enjoy your retirement, Ily, even if it comes decades too late.