Mike Horner Replacement Expected from List of 18

The Republican Party executive committees from both Osceola and Polk counties expect to whittle a list of 18 applicants to take Rep. Mike Horners place in the House District 42 contest to five later today.

The committees expect to be able to name the new candidate by Saturday afternoon after private one-on-one interviews at the Omni Hotel in Champions Gate, said Danny Sexton, chairman of the Osceola County Republican executive committee.

Im extremely confident from the 18 that there is someone we can agree upon, Sexton said.

The list of 18 was not immediately available.

Horner, who had been considered a heavy favorite to win a third term and was expected to play a lead committee role after serving the past two years as chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee for transportation and economic development, resigned abruptly on Sept. 24 after his name surfaced on an brothel client list.

The individual who takes Horners place in the contest will not be on the ballot as the ballots have already been set with the Horner as the GOP candidate.

Among names that the Orlando Sentinel has reported as possible replacements include former state representative and current Osceola County Commissioner Frank Attkisson, R-Kissimmee; former county commissioner and former mayor of Kissimmee, Ken Smith; and Polk County Republican Party Chairman Jimmy Nelson.

The Republican Party of Florida gave potential candidates until 10 a.m. Friday to apply.