ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Local Democratic Party leaders will meet Wednesday evening to vote on who will replace former Orange County tax collector Earl K. Wood on the ballot in November's election.
Wood, 96, died Monday of natural causes.
Voting members of the Orange County Democratic Party will meet to take up names and make the decision.
There are Democrats in Orange County who've never known any other tax collector than Earl Wood, who was first elected to the position in 1964.
Wood's name will still appear on the ballot, and he's already received votes by absentee ballot, but whoever gets the nod from party leaders will inherit those votes.
Many expect Scott Randolph, the Orlando Democrat who's served as a state representative for six years, to be near the top of the potential replacements. He announced in May he'd leave Tallahassee.
Also among the likely candidates are former Orlando city commissioner Phil Diamond and current county commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell.
Certified Public Accountant Rod Eddins ran against Wood earlier this year, promising to transform the tax collector's office into a more modern, more transparent organization.
Eddins, one of the potential candidates, has said publicly he'd be interested in taking the job.
Whoever is selected will face Republican candidate Mike Huckeba, who has run on a promise to change the tax collector's office as well.
Huckeba said he believes tax collector shouldn't be an elected position but rather a part of another county department.
WFTV
