A second Democrat gets nod to run in state House 44 race

Democrats have a new candidate in the state House 44 race, but questions about their former candidate’s eligibility still hang over the campaign.

Eduardo “Eddy” Dominguez, an executive at the human resources firm Resource Employment Solutions, was chosen by the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee to replace Paul Chandler, who withdrew from the race last week.

Dominguez officially filed with the state Tuesday. He’ill face Republican Bobby Olszewski in the Oct. 10 special election for District 44, which includes western Orange County, Windermere and Winter Garden. “I’ve always dreamed about running,” he said. He had considered running in the August primary, “and looking back, I kind of regret it.”

All ballots, however, will have Chandler’s name on them because he withdrew after the deadline to send out military and overseas ballots. “It’s one more barrier for me to overcome,” Dominguez said. “Hopefully, whoever comes out to vote [supports] platform.”

Bill Cowles, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, said the office would mail postcards to voters explaining a vote for Chandler is a vote for Dominguez.

Chandler, the only Democrat to initially file to run for the seat after former state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle was named a judge, faced a lawsuit questioning his eligibility after it was revealed he voted in Missouri as recently as 2016. Florida law requires two years of residency to run for office.

The lawsuit, filed by Republican operative Charles Hart, remains active. It was unclear if state law would allow a party to replace a candidate who should not have been allowed to qualify.

Chandler originally announced his withdrawal in August but changed his mind a few days later. He claimed the county party tried to force him out, which chairman Wes Hodge denied.

Oszewski, who won a four-way Republican primary in August, said the new candidate “does not change what we are doing.” the Democratic