Candidate filing for the vacant 5th District commissioner’s seat in Freeborn County begins Nov. 3.

A special general election will be held March 15 to fill the seat vacated by Linda Tuttle, who resigned from the position on Aug. 1.

Tuttle is accused of using her company, Albert Lea Abstract Co., to divert money into her own accounts to pursue her alleged gambling addiction. She is scheduled to appear in Freeborn County District Court on Nov. 12, facing 12 counts of felony theft by swindle, along with one count of racketeering in the case.

The 5th District consists of Pickerel Lake Township plus Albert Lea’s 3rd and 6th wards.

Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer Dennis Distad said the term will begin on March 28, 2011.

Tuttle won the seat in the 2008 general election by defeating Mike Lee on a vote of 1,752 to 1,548. Tuttle and Lee had survived the 2008 primary election by beating Curtis Smith, Tony Pestorious and Chad Severtson.

According to Distad, the cost of filing is $50.

He said people must meet the following requirements to file for the office: Be eligible to vote in Minnesota, currently not running as a candidate for any other office, be 21 years of age by March 28 and have maintained residence in the 5th District for at least 30 days prior to the general election on March 15.

Anyone filing for the office of 5th District commissioner will receive a packet that includes an affidavit of candidacy and a 2010 campaign manual, along with an outline of the duties and general Q&A from the Association of Minnesota Counties.

Filing will take place in the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at the Freeborn County Courthouse at 411 Broadway Ave. S., Albert Lea. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Monday through Friday.

The filing period ends at 5 p.m. Nov. 17.

Distad encourages anyone with questions to visit the office or call 507-377-5121.

Information for 5th District commissioner candidates:

Candidates filing for the office of 5th District commissioner will receive a packet that includes the following information, from the Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office.

• Affidavit of candidacy: This needs to be completed in the Auditor-Treasurer’s Office with the filing fee of $50. This information will be entered into the state system so that candidate’s names will be set up for printing on the ballot. The way a candidate would like his or her name to appear on the ballot also comes from this form. (Examples: Al “Minnow” Brooks, Dennis A. Distad)
• Address of residence form: If a candidate does not want to have his or her address published on the secretary of state’s website for privacy reasons, this form would also need to be completed.
• 2010 Campaign Manual: This 55-page manual is used as a source for any questions about campaigning and reporting.
• Voter Information Request Form: This form is voluntary and would need to be sent to the secretary of state for the candidate to receive a list of voters with voting history, household mailing labels, walking lists, etc.
• Map order form: This form explains the different types of maps that can be ordered through the secretary of state, for a small fee.
• Minnesota Department of Transportation letter: This letter explains the statutes in place for signs and advertisements. (Examples: no placement on private land without consent of owner or occupant or on public utility poles, trees, shrubs, etc.)
• Susan G. Miller Freeborn County Engineer letter: This states that the placement of campaign signs are prohibited within the county highway right-of-ways.
• Election candidate information form (voluntary disclosure): This form is voluntary and is about the candidate’s personal information, ex. occupation/employer, age, endorsements, e-mail, etc. This information will be published on the secretary of state’s website for voters to research more about a candidate.
• Candidate name pronunciation system: The AutoMark is an assistive voting device to support independent voting by individuals with disabilities and the elderly. One of the options is to be able to hear the candidate’s name through a headset. This form gives the candidate a telephone number to call and a voice recording system to speak and the pronunciation of the candidate’s name and how the candidate would like it heard to the voters.
• Your views count: This is a four-page pamphlet with phone numbers and addresses of city, county, school board members, congressman, etc.
• Duties of a county commissioner: This is a job description from the Association of Minnesota Counties.
• “So You Want To Be A County Commissioner”: This is a description of responsibilities from the Association of Minnesota Counties.
• Freeborn County commissioner districts: This is a guide with all the townships and cities, and which commissioner district they belong to.
• Campaign financial report: There are four reporting dates a candidate must follow and file these reports with the Auditor-Treasurer about the contributions and disbursements.
• Maps: These are maps of commissioner districts, Albert Lea wards and Pickerel Lake Township.