By order of the Pennsylvania Department of State, the Blair County election office has scheduled a special election for March 17 to fill the unexpired term of former state Rep. Lou Schmitt, who resigned Dec. 31 to become a Blair County judge — having been elected to the bench in November.

Schmitt represented the 79th District, comprising the city, Logan and Allegheny townships and the Blair County portion of Tunnelhill.

The parties are setting up nominating conventions, so that county committee members from the 79th District can choose candidates for the election, which will involve only 79th District voters.

Three potential candidates have expressed interest in the Republican nomination — A.C. Stickel, the county controller; Andrea Verobish of Allegheny Township, a staffer for U.S. Rep. Glenn G.T. Thompson, R-Centre; and Jim Patterson, chairman of the Logan Township supervisors — according to Blair County Republican Committee Chairman Matt Zupon.

It’s possible, though unlikely, that additional potential candidates will declare, he said.

The Republicans will hold a similar event Jan. 13 at the Altoona Grand Hotel, although it will be entirely in-person (with no proxies), and ballots will be written and secret — all based on party bylaws, according to Zupon.

Once a candidate is nominated by an attendee, who will give a nominating speech, the potential candidate will make his or her case to the group, Zupon said.

Two potential candidates have expressed interest so far in the Democratic nomination — Corinna Griffith, who ran and lost last year for a seat on the Altoona Area School Board; and Caleb McCoy, a health care worker native to the area, who recently became active in the party, said Gillian Kratzer, chairwoman of the Blair County Democratic Committee.

Both are interested in running this year for a full term, she said.

The Democrats will hold their hybrid — in person and virtual — convention Jan. 24, with proceedings based on party bylaws, Kratzer said.

Kratzer will run the event, calling for names to be put forward.

Potential candidates will need to be seconded for their names to be voted on.

Votes will take place openly, after all potential nominees have received seconds.

Candidates for the seat need to obtain signatures of at least 513 registered 79th District voters, based on that being the number of signatures required on a nominating petition for a party candidate; or else 2% of the largest vote cast for any 79th District winner in the last election, whichever is greater, according to a note appended to a schedule forwarded to the Mirror from the state by Blair County Elections Director Sarah Seymour.

Candidates need to file a statement of financial interest with the State Ethics Commission, with pre-and post-election deadlines of March 6, March 17 and April 16.

They also must pay a $100 filing fee.

The parties need to file nomination certificates with the state, naming their candidates, by Jan. 26.

The last day to file objections to candidates is Jan. 29.

The last day for candidates to withdraw and for the parties to nominate substitute candidates is Feb. 2.

The last day to register to vote in the special election is March 2.

Domestic absentee and mail-in ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by 8 p.m. election day.

Schmitt’s term expires Nov. 30.

The writ of election that sets special elections to fill vacant seats in the House is authored by the Speaker of the House, which is currently state Rep. Joanne McClinton, who represents part of Philadelphia and Delaware counties.

State election code requires the speaker to order the election to be held no earlier than 60 days after the writ is sent.

The election will actually be held 74 days after the Jan. 2 date of the writ.

When a vacancy occurs with fewer than seven months left in the term, no special election occurs, unless the speaker determines that one would be “in the public interest,” according to the code.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.