from staff
Paul Perez, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, resigned Tuesday to take a job with Fidelity National Financial, Inc. Appointed in 2002 by Pres. George W. Bush, Perez will officially step down March 30 to become Fidelity’s chief compliance officer.
Perez, 52 and a resident of Atlantic Beach, sent his letter of resignation to both Bush and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Of the 93 presidential appointees as U.S. attorneys, eight have been fired within the past two years. Perez indicated those firings had nothing to do with his decision. Rather, he got an offer from the private sector that was too good to pass up. Like all of the country’s other U.S. attorneys, Perez would have had to resign near the end of 2008, after the presidential election, regardless who wins.
At Fidelity, Perez will make sure the 17,000 employee title insurance company headquartered on Riverside Avenue stays in compliance with state and federal statutes. He also said the job pays much more than the U.S. attorney position.
Perez has recommended Jim Klindt, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, get the job on an interim basis until his replacement is appointed.
The U.S. Middle District of Florida includes offices in Jacksonville, Tampa, Ft. Myers, Orlando and Ocala.