Less than a week after the death of state Rep. Stan Mayfield of Vero Beach, Indian River County Republicans on Monday night selected his vanquished primary rival, Carole Jean Jordan, to be the new county tax collector. Jordan, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, narrowly won the backing of local Republicans at a special meeting at the Vero Beach Elks Club.

Jordan finished second with 27 percent of the vote in a three-way Republican primary that Mayfield won with 48 percent. (There's no Democratic candidate; the office is not on the Nov. 4 ballot). The job pays about $116,000 a year.

State Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, who succeeded Jordan in the state post, spoke on her behalf before she edged Assistant Tax Collector Jeff Smith in a 41-35 vote, the Vero Beach Press Journal reports. Greer later issued a statement saying that Jordan "demonstrated fiscal responsibility and sound financial management" as state party leader.

Jordan, 64, owns a sprinkler company in Vero Beach. She also won re-election in August as Indian River County's Republican state committeewoman and is one of John McCain's 27 presidential electors in Florida.

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