Crist to interview 2 additional candidates for commission seat

ORLANDO -- 

Two more candidates have been added to the list of people hoping to replace suspended Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez.

Rod Reynolds and Armando Gutierrez were added to the list of candidates Wednesday night.

Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to meet Thursday with all seven people.

The Commission could be back up to full speed before the week is over.

Among the people who want to fill vacant seat include a current state representative, a retiree and a banker.

Crist will sit down with each of them and go over their applications to learn more about them.

Since Fernandez’s arrest in April on charges of bribery, 12 people -- five women and seven men -- have submitted their names to the governor’s office to be considered for the District 3 Commission seat.

Scott Randolph

“I have an incredibly diverse district, just like commission District 3 is,” said state Rep. Scott Randolph. “So I have the staff already in place to take care of constituent work that has been piling up.”

Randolph wants the job, and is already a Democratic state representative for Orlando and Orange County.

He is running for re-election, but Randolph said he would drop out if the governor appoints him to the commission.

Mary Johnson

“I have all the knowledge,” said Mary Johnson, a former commissioner. “I know the people. I know the concerns that they have. I am the person. I’ve had all the experience.”

Johnson served a total of 24 years as a commissioner -- 12 on the Orlando board, and 12 as an Orange County commissioner.

A Harvard graduate, she has been out of politics since 2004, and said she’s ready to dive back in.

Jean Ruiz Sandor

A real estate broker, Republican Jean Ruiz Sandor earned her business degree in Puerto Rico.

Over the phone, Sandor said it would be a privilege to serve the people of District 3.

Lou Damiani

A marketing director for a local engineering firm, Lou Damiani received his master’s degree from the University of Central Florida.

He was not immediately available for comment.

Eric Lasso

An investment executive at Fifth Third Bank, Eric Lasso studied at the University of Florida.

He could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rodney Reynolds

He could not immediately be reached for comment.

Armando Gutierrez

He could not immediately be reached for comment.

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So how much will politics and race play into Gov. Crist’s decision?

“I don’t know how much the governor will take politics into account, but I’m sure he’ll do the right thing,” said Randolph.

The interviews will take place in the governor’s office, probably Thursday afternoon, according to Crist’s press secretary.

The times, however, have not been set in stone, because the governor has a cabinet meeting.

A contact in the governor’s office said Crist can always add additional interviews if he is not happy with any of the candidates.