TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Governor Charlie Crist could be close to making a decision to replace arrested Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez. WFTV was there when the Governor interviewed candidates Thursday.

Seven finalists are vying for the job of District 3 commissioner. It's a job that has been vacant since April, when Fernandez was arrested for alleged bribes. The candidates only got about ten minutes each Thursday to convince the governor.

Several called the interviews the last step in the process. The candidates talked to the Governor one-on-one and WFTV talked to them as they came out.

“How'd it go?” WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked candidate Luigi Damiani.

“Fantastic, it was great,” Damiani said.

In a rapid-fire round of interviews with the Governor, seven people, including current State Rep. Scott Randolph, came to Tallahassee from Orange County, all competing to fill the spot of suspended Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez.

“The Governor just said who can do the best for Orange County,” State Rep. Scott Randolph said.

“I think we have to bring the trust and stability to District 3,” candidate Mary Johnson said.

Some insiders say former county commissioner Mary Johnson could be a frontrunner for the job.

“I can just roll up my sleeves and get to work,” she said.

But the Governor insisted the seat is up for grabs. At the last minute, he added two names, tea party member Rod Reynolds and Republican Armando Gutierrez, to the list of finalists that includes Luigi Damiani, who ran against Fernandez in 2004, financial advisor Eric Lasso, as well as real estate broker Jean Sandor.

“I'm feeling very confident about it, actually,” Lasso said.

“I'm, what you see is what you get,” Sandor said.

But the Governor denied rumors that he could have Commissioner Fernandez’s replacement picked out as early as Thursday night.

“I don't know if we'll make a decision today. I think we'll wait a few days. I like to think about things,” Crist said.

The candidate the Governor selects will serve out Commissioner Fernandez term, which ends in 2012.

If Fernandez is convicted of a felony, she'll lose her commission seat for good. In April, Fernandez was arrested on 16 felony charges of racketeering, grand theft, bribery and accepting illegal campaign contributions. Her attorney told WFTV her case won't go to trial until at least December.