Southwest Florida’s new congressman was sworn in Wednesday.
Retired CEO Curt Clawson won Tuesday’s special election to fill Trey Radel’s former seat in the U.S. House. Radel resigned in late January following a drug charge.
Clawson beat Democrat April Freeman and Libertarian Ray Netherwood with 67 percent of the vote. On Election night, he told reporters he was boarding a plane to Washington first thing in the morning.
“We want to represent Southwest Florida as quickly as we can,” he said. “Every day that goes by is more votes happening up there without our vote being counted. So, I think the most important thing is for us to go up there and get started.”
The House is currently in session. Clawson said one of his first priorities is to get up to speed on issues facing the region. He also said he will try to familiarize himself with Florida’s Republican delegation.
“If you look at the Republicans in our state, you got a lot of shades of conservatism there, but we gotta do what is best for Florida. And my plan is to represent all of Southwest Florida,” he said.
House Speaker John Boehner’s office held a swearing-in ceremony for Clawson at the Speaker’s Ceremonial Office in the Capitol while the U.S. House was in session.
