Gov. Bob Riley's office on Monday announced dates for a special election to fill the vacant seat of Alabama House Dist. 40 Rep. Lea Fite, the Jacksonville Democrat who died last week.

Meantime, three Jacksonville residents said Monday they will campaign for the post:

• K.L. Brown, funeral home owner, a Republican.

• Tom Shelton, pawn shop owner and former state representative, a Republican.

• Ricky Whaley, veteran educator at Jacksonville High School, a Democrat.

The qualifying period for the seat ends Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. The primary election is to be Jan. 5, and a runoff, if needed, will be Feb. 16. If there's no runoff, the general election will be Feb. 16. If there is a runoff, the general election would be March 30.

Philip Bryan, spokesman for the state Republican party, called this a "tricky" situation. If the candidate won the general election on March 30, he would then have three days until April 2, the qualifying deadline for the 2010 general elections, when all seats in the Legislature will be up for grabs.

Translation: the candidates will run two campaigns within a few months, since a regular election for Fite's seat will be occurring next November anyway.

The Calhoun County Republican Party planned to name its candidate Monday night during a private meeting, chairman Jim Downey said.

Downey said it would take someone of high character and integrity, with an appreciation for his party's ideals and who is "above the board."

State Democratic leaders want one of their own to replace Fite's legislative post, arguing that that person could continue on with Fite's fight, said Jim Spearman, executive director of the state Democratic party.

"I think it's very important they can continue on with what Lea was doing," he said.

Notable legislation passed by Fite includes HB147, enacted this year, which requires coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for women who are eligible for Medicaid.

The candidates on Monday each shared reasons why they want Fite's seat.

K.L. Brown said, "I've felt for some time that our district needed a little more conservative representation."

Whaley, agriculture teacher at Jacksonville High, said the last line of the FFA creed is "Living to Serve."

"I want to do what I've told my students for the last 25 years."

Tom Shelton, a state representative from 1974-78, said he sponsored a bill to create the Calhoun County Economic Development Council, which brought jobs to the area.

"The economy is so bad that somebody needs to try really hard to get jobs," he said.

Calhoun County Commissioner Rudy Abbott said he was asked to run for the seat by the state Democratic party and Fite's parents. However, Abbott said he won't run because he enjoys being a commissioner.

"It's a nice compliment," he said.

Piedmont Mayor Brian Young said he is considering Fite's seat.

"It's going to big shoes to fill," Young said.

Fite's death at age 54 marked the end of a young political career. The Anniston native devoted 15 years to local politics and was on his seventh year as a state representative for House District 40, which encompasses northern Calhoun County.