Photo obtained via the city of Avondale Estates website.

Today is the first day for candidates to qualify to run for mayor of Avondale Estates in a special election that will be held March 17.

The election is being held to determine the replacement for Ed Rieker, who resigned in October with about one year left on his term to take a university teaching job. Mayor Terry Giager, the previous mayor pro tem who took over the duties of the mayor after Rieker’s resignation, has said he isn’t interested in running again. Rieker’s unexpired term ends on Dec. 31, 2015.

Here is the notice from the city of Avondale Estates:

Notice is hereby given that a Municipal Special Election for the City of Avondale Estates will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, to fill the vacancy and unexpired term of Mayor due to the resignation of Ed Rieker. The person elected to fill this unexpired term will serve through December 31, 2015. This seat will be up for reelection on November 3, 2015, and the candidate elected in November will serve a term of four (4) years beginning January 1, 2016.

Voting will take place on Tuesday, March 17, at Avondale Estates City Hall, 21 North Avondale Plaza, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any person who is a resident of the City of Avondale Estates and who is registered with DeKalb County Board of Registrations and Elections by February 17, 2015, as an elector within the City of Avondale Estates, shall be eligible to vote in this election. Click here to check your voting registration status, register to vote, etc.

Persons wishing to qualify for this election may file a notice of candidacy with City Clerk Juliette Sims-Owens at City Hall, 21 North Avondale Plaza, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning today, Monday, January 12, 2015, through Friday, January 16, 2015. The qualifying fee is $3. 

Advance voting begins Monday, February 23, 2015, at the DeKalb County Elections Division, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30032, 404-298-4020.