Voters in Fort Oglethorpe will go to the polls for a special election on March 19 to fill the unexpired term of recently deceased council member Eddie Stinnett.

Stinnett died of a heart attack on Nov. 28, one day after the council voted unanimously to oust council member Charles Sharrock over sexual harassment charges.

The council, which usually has five members, is now operating with a minimum three-member quorum.

Sharrock's seat is in limbo, pending his appeal to the Catoosa County Superior Court.

Stinnett's term was due to expire in 2013, meaning that the winner in the March 19 special election, in order to be re-elected, will have to run again in the general election in November, city manager Ron Goulart said.

According to elections superintendent Orma Luckey, any potential candidate must pass an ethics review and pay a qualifying fee of $255, which is three percent of the annual salary of a council member, currently set at $8,500.

Luckey said candidate qualifying will be held at city hall on Monday, Jan. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; on Tuesday, Jan. 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Early voting will be held Feb. 25 to March 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the committee meeting room at city hall. Advance voting is scheduled for March 11-15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the council meeting room.

Absentee ballots will be available by contacting Carol Murray at city hall or by calling 706-866-2544, ext. 1300, for an application. The last day to register to vote in the special election is Feb. 19.

According to Luckey, a run-off election, if needed, will be held April 16.

For more information on the election, call Luckey at 423-400-7246.