With over two dozen Osceola County residents already requesting to be considered to be the new Republican Party candidate to replace State Rep. Mike Horner for the District 42 race in the Nov. 6 election, the Osceola Republican Executive Committee has created an online application process for individuals interested in consideration by the party.

Anyone who wishes to be considered in the nomination process by the county committee — including those who have already asked to be considered — will need to apply online at http://http://rpof.org/hd-42-application/. The password is hd42.

Applications must be submitted by 10 a.m. on Friday in order to be reviewed by Osceola County's three-member committee.

"The selection process was established in order to provide the maximum amount of transparency and openness to the voting public," OCREC Chairman Danny Sexton said in a release.  "A thorough
vetting process will ensure the voters of House District 42 that the best Republican candidate will be selected."

The county committee will meet with the four members of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee at 9 a.m. at the Omni ChampionsGate Resort to fill the vacancy in acccordance with Rule 4 of the Republican Party of Florida's Rules and Procedures. Sexton told the News-Gazette earlier today that the committee hopes to name it's new candidate early Saturday afternoon.

Mike Horner abruptly dropped from the campaign Monday amid his connections to an Orange County brothel.