How Dan McNeill's successor will be chosen for Pennsylvania House

A special election is scheduled Dec. 5 to fill the vacancy left by the death of state Rep. Dan McNeill in Pennsylvania's 133rd Legislative District.

Thanks to vote totals from last year's general election, both the Green and Libertarian parties will be able to field candidates alongside those of the Democratic and Republican parties, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Those four parties need only file nomination certificates for their respective candidates. Anyone else interested in running -- independents or members of minor political parties -- can get on the ballot by filing nomination papers with at least 303 signatures.

The deadline to file with the Department of State is Oct. 16.

The election is only open to residents of the 133rd District, which covers Bethlehem and Hanover Township in Lehigh County, Catasauqua, Coplay, Fountain Hill, Salisbury Township (Wards 1 and 2 and Division 2 of Ward 3) and Whitehall Township (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12).

Polls will be open in the district 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, a Tuesday.

Campaign finance reports and filing of Statement of Financial Interests are required of candidates.

Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, ordered the special election on Monday and said the winner will take office after the results are certified.

The district office at 1080 Schadt Ave. in Whitehall Township will remain open under supervision of the state House to assist constituents with issues or problems and to continue constituent inquiries already in progress, according to Turzai's order.

The office will remain in operation until a new representative takes office and decides how to manage the district.

McNeill, a Democrat from Whitehall Township, served in the state Legislature since 2013, when he succeeded former Rep. Joe Brennan. He won re-election last fall to a third two-year term.

McNeill died Sept. 8 of natural causes at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and daughters Kathleen and Shannon, along with his grandchildren.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.