The Frederick County Republican Central Committee has selected three finalists for state delegate, paring down a list of eight applicants. Mike Hough, Charles A. Jenkins and John R. Lovell, Jr., will interview for the job on Wednesday, one week before the General Assembly's 90-day session begins.

The vacancy was created several weeks ago when Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr. stepped down to become executive assistant to Frederick Mayor Randy McClement. Weldon was a Republican until September 2008, when he left the party to become an independent. Because Weldon was elected as a Republican, the local party committee selects his replacement, who would have to run for election this fall.

The district includes a small part of Washington County, which has been involved in the process, said Kelly Schulz, chairwoman of the Frederick Republicans. "We are working together amicably, and the goal is to forward one name to the governor," she said. Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, must approve the selection. Interviews will take place Wednesday evening, and a delegate will be chosen that night, Schulz said.

Jenkins is a Frederick County commissioner, Lovell is a former county commissioner and Hough, who announced his candidacy before Weldon stepped down, works with Republican Sen. Alex X. Mooney.