FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Rep. Alcee Hastings, the fiercely liberal longtime Florida congressman who was dogged throughout his tenure by an impeachment that ended his fast-rising judicial career, died Tuesday. He was 84.
His family issued the following statement:
“It is with profound sadness and the deepest sense of loss that we announce the passing of the Honorable Alcee L. Hastings. He lived a life of triumph over adversity and his brilliance and compassion was felt amongst his constituents, colleagues, the nation and the world. He lived a full life with an indelible fighting spirit dedicated to equal justice. He believed that progress and change can only be achieved through recognizing and respecting the humanity of all mankind. He was never afraid to speak his mind and truly loved serving his constituents and his family. He will be dearly missed but his legacy and fighting spirit will forever live on.”
Congressman Hastings shared a special bond with Broward Commissioner, District 9, Dale Holness
Hastings was an advocate for minorities, and a voice for immigrants, women, and the elderly. He held senior posts on the House Rules Committee and the Helsinki Commission, which works with other countries on a variety of multinational issues.
Broward Commissioner Dale Holness attributed Hastings’ endorsement in his 2010 campaign to his success. Holness called the Congressman a friend, a fearless fighter for justice, equality and opportunity for all, and offered deepest sympathies to the Congressman’s wife Patricia, his family, staff and constituents.
It is anticipated that Governor DeSantis will call a special election to fill his seat in the coming months. Speculation is that many will toss their hat in to fill Hastings’ seat and as a result leave a number of seats open in the Black/Caribbean community creating a snowball effect.
