The special election to fill the vacant Albert Lea City Council seat in Ward 1 will be in May with filing for office beginning in January.

The City Council on Monday declared a vacancy in the seat and approved the following dates for the special election:

• Filing from Jan. 5-19, 2011.

• Special primary election on March 15, 2011, if there are more than two candidates who file.

• Special election on May 3, 2011.

The seat was vacated about a month ago after former 1st Ward Councilor Vern Rasmussen accepted the position as mayor.

The person who is elected as 1st Ward councilor will serve Rasmussen’s unexpired term, which ends in December 2012.

City Clerk Shirley Slater-Schulte estimated the person elected would take office at the second City Council meeting in May 2011.