Governor Beebe today issued a proclamation setting Tuesday, December 8, 2009, as the special election date to fill the District 4 senate seat vacated by the resignation of former State Senator Sharon Trusty.

The election was originally set for January 12, 2010. However, now that filing has ended and it is clear that a special primary run-off election will not be necessary, the timeline can be accelerated.

Although only one candidate per party filed for the election, the special primary election for the Democratic and Republican parties must still be held under election law. That primary will still occur on Tuesday, October 13.