Reply #14: his name will be on ballot next week

[rodeodance]

Arza resigned about an hour before a special House panel was set to begin hearings on whether to expel him.

"It's not really a happy day for anybody, I don't think," said Barreiro, of Miami Beach. "I think he made the right decision, the right decision, not only for himself, but I thought he looked at the bigger picture, which is the institution he represents. I wish him the best."

The Republican Party gets to choose a replacement for Arza in the general election, less than a week away, but Arza's name will still be on the ballot. The situation would be similar to what has happened in former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record)'s district, when the GOP replaced him with Joe Negron.

"Any vote for Arza would be contributed to the new nominee," said state Division of Elections spokeswoman Jenny Nash.