This article was updated at 6:45 p.m.
The Duval County Democratic Party Executive Committee will select a new candidate to run for the open State House District-13 seat later this week .
Last week, incumbent Democratic Representative Reggie Fullwood pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraudfor using campaign funds for personal uses, leaving him ineligible to serve if re-elected.
The vote for Fullwood’s replacement candidate was originally scheduled for Monday evening but Democratic Committee spokesman James Poindexter said the meeting has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
“We want to make sure that our attorneys have ample time to review the relevant statutes, rules, and bylaws to ensure that we get this right,” said Poindexter in a news release. “We also need to make sure that each of our members have appropriate notice of the meeting so that their votes can be counted and their voices heard.”
The vote will be held at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall on Liberty Street. The committee has until 5 p.m. Friday to choose a replacement.
MORE BELOW | Read the letters from Crisafulli and Fullwood
Fullwood withdrew his candidacy Friday, and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli suspended him from his seat Monday.
Fullwood replied to his suspension Monday with a resignation letter he said he intended to send Friday.
In the letter, he said he has “long maintained that the federal charge of wire fraud is just a repackaged version of State Election Law violations that are routinely handled by the Florida Election Commission.”
Likely candidate replacements include Tracie Davis, who narrowly lost to Fullwood in a six-way primary race in August. Poindexter said committee members will vote on a candidate by a secret ballot.
Duval Elections Supervisor Mike Hogan said Friday Fullwood’s name will stay on the ballot, and signs at polls will likely instruct voters: A vote for Fullwood is a vote for his replacement.
Editor's Note: This article was updated with details about the postponement of Monday's vote and the rescheduling for Tuesday.
Reporter Lindsey Kilbride can be reached at lkilbride@wjct.org, 904-358-6359 or on Twitter at@lindskilbride
